The Object-Oriented Database System Manifesto

This paper attempts to define an object-oriented database system. It describes the main features and characteristics that a system must have to qualify as an object-oriented database system. We have separated these characteristics into three groups: • Mandatory, the ones the system must satisfy in order to be termed an object-oriented database system. These are complex objects, object identity, encapsulation, types or classes, inheritance, overriding combined with late binding, extensibility, computational completeness, persistence, secondary storage management, concurrency, recovery and an ad hoc query facility. • Optional, the ones that can be added to make the system better, but which are not mandatory. These are multiple inheritance, type checking and inferencing, distribution, design transactions and versions. • Open, the points where the designer can make a number of choices. These are the programming paradigm, the representation system, the type system, and uniformity. We have taken a position, not so much expecting it to be the final word as to erect a provisional landmark to orient further debate.