Algorithms for Updating Relational Data

Question

What algorithms are known to perform the task of updating a database by inserting, updating, and deleting rows in the presence of database constraints?

More specifically

Answer 1

No, I don't find it fascinating. I don't find the quadrature-of-the-circle-problem fascinating either, and on that topic too there do exist people who strongly, or even violently, disagree with me.

When you say that "it has practical applications", do you mean to say that "the solution to this problem has practical applications" ? I suggest that a solution that does not exist, by definition cannot have "practical applications". (And I do suggest that the solution you're seeking does not exist, just like the quadrature of the circle.)

You argued something about "when other apps hang cascading deletes ...". Your initial problem statement contained no mention whatsoever of "other apps".

The problem I find way more fascinating is "how to build a DBMS that is good enough so that programmers will no longer be facing these kinds of problem, and no longer be forced to ask these kinds of question". Such a DBMS supports Multiple Assignment.

I wish you the best of luck.