Generating relational database transactions from EB~3 attribute definitions

摘要

EB~3 is a trace-based formal language created for the specification of information systems. In EB~3, each entity and association attribute is independently defined by a recursive function on the valid traces of external events. This paper describes an algorithm that generates, for each external event, a transaction that updates the value of affected attributes in their relational database representation. The benefits are twofold: eb~3 attribute specifications are automatically translated into executable programs, eliminating system design and implementation steps; the construction of information systems is streamlined, because EB~3 specifications are simpler and shorter to write than corresponding traditional specifications, design and implementations. In particular, the paper shows that simple EB~3 constructs can replace complex SQL queries which are typically difficult to write.