Work by Database Architecture

Database Architecture

Database-centric architecture or data-centric architecture has several distinct meanings, generally relating to software architectures in which databases play a crucial role. Often this description is meant to contrast the design to an alternative approach. For example, the characterization of an architecture as "database-centric" may mean any combination of the following:

  • using a standard, general-purpose relational database management system, as opposed to customized in-memory or file-based data structures and access methods. With the evolution of sophisticated DBMS software, much of which is either free or included with the operating system, application developers have become increasingly reliant on standard database tools, especially for the sake of rapid application development.
  • using dynamic, table-driven logic, as opposed to logic embodied in previously compiled programs. The use of table-driven logic, i.e. behavior that is heavily dictated by the contents of a database, allows programs to be simpler and more flexible. This capability is a central feature of dynamic programming languages. See also control tables for tables that are normally coded and embedded within programs as data structures (i.e. not compiled statements) but could equally be read in from a flat file, database or even retrieved from a spreadsheet.
  • using stored procedures that run on database servers, as opposed to greater reliance on logic running in middle-tier application servers in a multi-tier architecture. The extent to which business logic should be placed at the back-end versus another tier is a subject of ongoing debate. For example, Toon Koppelaars presents a detailed analysis of alternative Oracle-based architectures that vary in the placement of business logic, concluding that a database-centric approach has practical advantages from the standpoint of ease of development and maintainability.
  • using a shared database as the basis for communicating between parallel processes in distributed computing applications, as opposed to direct inter-process communication via message passing functions and message-oriented middleware. A potential benefit of database-centric architecture in distributed applications is that it simplifies the design by utilizing DBMS-provided transaction processing and indexing to achieve a high degree of reliability, performance, and capacity. For example, Base One describes a database-centric distributed computing architecture for grid and cluster computing, and explains how this design provides enhanced security, fault-tolerance, and scalability.
Title Status Start Date End Date Company
Tektronix - Americas Marketing Campaign Completed 02/03/2004 11/18/2004 Tektronix
CMD - Knowledge Portal Canceled 02/02/2004 04/16/2004 CMD
Intel - Mobile Computer and Cellular Strategies for Tomorrow Completed 03/11/2003 09/29/2003 Intel
Jeldwen.com Completed 05/13/2002 07/15/2002 Jeld-wen
Paxton Patterson - Admin LCMS Completed 04/08/2002 06/25/2004 Paxton Patterson
Hewlet Packard - Retail Marketing Portal Completed 08/13/2001 06/25/2004 Hewlett Packard
CMD - Direct and Database Marketing Tool Completed 05/14/2001 09/06/2004 CMD
Jeld-win - Caradco Windows & Doors Completed 05/08/2001 11/28/2001 Jeld-wen
Sharp Systems of America - USA Corporate Development Completed 03/12/2001 04/24/2001 Sharp Systems of America
Cotelligent Extranet Completed 09/14/2000 11/23/2000 Cotelligent
Deutche Bank - Prototype Canceled 01/19/1999 03/27/1999 Deutsche Bank
Communi(k) - RSS Retail Prototype Canceled 09/03/1998 03/23/1999 Communi(k)
Communi(k) - Project Dolphin Completed 04/20/1998 07/25/2000 Communi(k)
CyberTad Completed 05/12/1997 06/17/1997 Robert Foley Jr Consulting