Why use binary files to stack up different versions on DMSs?

I’ve used both Liferay and Alfresco trying to use them as the Document Management System for an intranet.

Design pattern for access to tree-like database in Java?

I’m developing a Roleplaying character viewer/manager programme for a locap LARP system. The Characters have access to skills that are layed out in a tree-like structure. There are a lot of skills, and potentially a lot per character.

Keeping “historical” migrations in Django-south

After a system has gone through many migrations, and evolved enough for a second version, does it make sense to keep the old migrations around? I mean, old versions will use them to upgrade to the new one, sure, but should a fresh install have its database go through all the “historical” changes before arriving at the current shape? My gut feeling is that a fresh install should create the database “as it is”, not go through every mistake that was made in the product lifecycle until reaching a stable condition.

Data architecture for event log metrics?

My service has a large ongoing number of user events, and we would like to do things like “count occurrence of event type T since date D.”

Eager Loading Constraints

The thing is, eager loading some object with all of it’s associations reduces the queries made to the database, but the query time is greatly increased.
The question is: This increased query time in the end pays off the database not being hitted so often?

Should we ever delete data in a database?

I am new to databases and trying to understand the basic concepts. I have learned how to delete data in a database. But one of my friends told me that you should never delete data in a database. Rather, when its no longer needed, it’s better to simply mark it or flag it as ‘not in use’.

What is volume in terms of databases?

I was reading a text. It said,

Application connecting to database server

I’m working on an application which requires user credentials and so on. So a database is required on the backend.

Best method to implement a filtered search

I would like to ask you, your opinion when it comes to implement a filtered search form. Let’s imagine the following case:

How could you reconcile declarative database development and non-trivial data ‘motions’?

Coming back to SQL Server after several years away, I find the Visual Studio Database projects (and now SSDT) very exciting, as they are aiming to offer a way to develop databases declaratively, rather than having to mess around with change scripts.