Blog Post #5 - Object Oriented Databases

Object Oriented Databases Management Systems (OODBMS) is a collection of data that represents and computes into an object that can be used within a computer program. This method of design primarily consists of two characteristics; Attributes (or fields) and codes (or methods).

Attributes are a composition of integers, strings, and real numbers that are stored as a record.
Codes are algorithms that define an object with the use of attributes as the data source.

Relationships between objects can also be made when reusing the codes for that object. This is called "inheritcharacteristics" of a system, where some or most of the characteristics of the object can be replicated easily when making a new object without the need to recreate it.

Advantages:
- Creation and use of similar objects are easily repeatable during design.
- Minimizing the complexity of a database system, reducing mistakes and problems.
- No limitations of data storage per object.
- Use of Class and Hierarchy can also reduce the complexity of the program system.

Disadvantages:
- Large variety of independent OODBMS applications using different computing languages
- Database is limited to only one programming language and so the integration of OODBMS applications and objects cannot be possible due to the difference in data storage. (one language program cannot read the data from another language program; ie. C++ and Python)

Object Oriented Databases has a large potential in the near future. With the uses of automated algorithms and pre-set descriptions of objects in the form of data, OOD or OOP (object oriented databases /programming) has allowed for a more effective design purpose, making it a more popular method of design. OOD is most effective in BIM programs such as Revit, where characteristics of walls, windows, and doors are present in code form and can be easily added into the CAD design of the a building or infrastructure. Since the programming of these objects are already complete, time can be saved when implementing these programs without the need to remake the characteristics of the object from scratch.

If the database of objects can be regulated, companies and designers will have an updated catalog of different parts and systems that are up to code and accepted by a larger variety of clients. This would allow for a more effective interconnected database system.



Comments:

Ami Amegan:
I like the way you've presented what OODBMS was. It was very clear and concise and allowed me to understand your insight about the future with BIM. Something that I found was that OODBMS was limited strongly due to the type of programming language that the object would be using. For example, an object designed and recorded in C++ cannot be read by a Python program. However, this is not the case for a RDBMS.

Kevin Saldivar:
Your explanation helped me a great deal while I was trying to understand the definition of a Object Oriented Database. How do you think OODBMS will look like in the future and what do you think it will accomplish or assist?