An RDBMS-only architecture for web applications

Abstract

Multi-tier architectures have been the de facto standard for web applications, leaving little room for alternative solutions. Despite this, there is diversity in the proposals, especially in the tiers' number, size, and responsibilities. In particular, the database-centric approach aims to implement application logic and behavior within an RDBMS. In this work, we present, model, and propose to extend the database-centric approach into an RDBMS-only architecture, where the whole multi-tiered application is implemented in the database server. We present a characterization and description of the architecture and an early prototype that implements the proposal. It is important to note that both the database-centric and the proposed RDBMS-only architectures are a particular case of a three-layered model that needs to be differentiated from monolithic systems. Our preliminary results show that this approach is not only feasible but also advisable in some cases.