Relational Database architecture continues to évolve?
Question:
What new offerings are database vendors providing especially in térms of Online analytical processing and processing of non-relational data?
This question is split into two sections: 1) OLAP and (2) non-relational data.
1) The use of the Rubik cube method of searching for data used in applications, is split into many different types:
DOLAP: PC-based tools that let users perform limited analysis of relatively small data warehouses
Relational OLAP (ROLAP): Server-based tools that help technically savvy users assemble into a cube a subset of related data points that have been stored in a relational database.
Multidimensional OLAP (MOLAP): Server-based tools that rely on pre-computed cubes of data to speed responses to queries.
Each has their own capabilities and weakness. For new offerings, just check the multitude of programs out there, and ever growing: however, beware of what packages say they can do, and what they actually can do. Also beware of unstable programming and incompatabilities.