Deductive and Active Databases: Two Paradigms or Ends of a Spectrum?

Abstract

This position paper considers several existing relational database rule languages with a focus on exploring the fundamental differences between deductive and active databases. We find that deductive and active databases do not form two discernible classes, but rather they delineate two ends of a spectrum of database rule languages. We claim that this spectrum corresponds to a notion of abstraction level, with deductive rule languages at a higher level and active rule languages at a lower level.