[dagheti]

Ok so let's clarify this:

(SQL schema & upgrades + ORM classes + Logic classes, random scripts) - (logic classes + random scripts) = SQL Schema & upgrades + ORM classes

The question then becomes how do you handle the trade-off between being able to declare constraints (that evil schema) and the necessity to "map" how you access your data to your programming language.

If you "program" your constraints in your host language, you will need to either recreate the declarative system provided by a RDBMs or else create a system that will be fragile. Sure your code protects you against inserting bad data right? Well what about updating? What about when you delete? What if your constraint references another value in your database? What if that one changes? Integrity is best declared, not guarded by your program.

If your network model implements declarative constraints, then how do you define them? Those "random scripts" again? Suddenly all those performance benefits of navigation disspear when you're updating that data and checking those constraints.

I've seen many improtant production systems that used the network data model and as a warning: it usually ends badly. Be it COBOL, or whatever fresh re-invention of that navigation database wheel.

[jrockway]

Integrity is best declared, not guarded by your program.

How do programs that don't use a database stay internally consistent?

[dasil003]

With much testing and reinventing of the wheel.