Honors Program
Date of this Version
5-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Citation
Dumas, K. 2024. ORMs and Database Design. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Abstract
This thesis explores the relationship between database design and Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) design, investigating how they have evolved together and influenced each other. It addresses a theoretical discussion, a practical implementation, and some observations regarding integrating an ORM into my Senior Design project. My Senior Design project was originally built without the intention of implementing an ORM.
There are a lot of complicated discrepancies between Relational Databases (RDBs) and Object-Oriented Programming Languages (OOPLs), called the Impedance Mismatch Problem. The fact that they are both foundational pillars in software engineering means that one cannot simply change to match the other. ORMs were developed in order to reconcile the differences between the two paradigms so that each and every individual developer does not have to tackle the problem on their own.
Mapping data from OOPLs to RDBs and back again is non-trivial and requires trade-offs in design considerations. That is why a variety of ORMs have popped up: to provide options to developers in terms of support and applicability. This thesis explores some of these trade-offs, especially as they relate to different ORM design patterns.
Key Words: ORM, Object-Relational Mapping, RDB, Relational Database, Object-Oriented Programming, Impedance Mismatch Problem
Comments
Copyright Kalim Dumas 2024