[dozenal]

Core Data was based on the Enterprise Object Framework from NeXT.

[mikeash]

Only loosely. And I don't believe EOF predates table views either.

[dozenal]

Okay, but I"m still not buying that Core Data had no design goals beyond backing store for table views.

[mikeash]

Oh yes, I certainly wouldn't try to argue with that. In classic Apple fashion, they seem to try to sell it as the solution for all things data storage.