Extending Database Technology Towards Object Orientation: For Whom, Why, and for What

New application areas like Computer Integrated Manufacturing and others are demanding for "object-oriented" database technology. The right approach to extend database technology towards object-orientation is therefore one of the hot research and development issues in the database research Community. Sometimes very controversial and confusing discussions are taking place, partially simply due to the fact that the point of view under which the argumentation takes place is not made clear. After a discussion of the different approaches and their underlying motivation, a possible combined approach which takes advantage from the benefits of either approach is outlined and some of the remain open issues are addressed. In total, the paper is attempting to give some answers to the questions why an extension of database technology towards object-orientation is needed and for whom it would be beneficial. It also tries to give some indications for what kind of demands it should be prepared.