Item 41. Hang On to Your Relational Database

Over the years I've been teaching XML, I've noticed that one perennial question is whether XML somehow replaces relational databases. Typically, this question is asked by IT managers who've had one too many Oracle salespersons visit the company and hoist them up by the toenails to see how much money they can shake out of their pockets. Often, the question is posed with an almost pleading tone, “Please tell me I can finally throw away my relational database. Please.”

Sadly, for these managers the answer is no, they cannot throw away their relational database. (They may well be able to replace the ridiculously expensive Oracle with the ridiculously cheap MySQL or PostgreSQL, but that's a subject for ...

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