One other intriguing benefit of NoSQL that I started to unwitting benefit from recently is the ability to push data scheme concerns entirely to the application layer. In this scenario, the applications use a NoSQL database predominantly as a storage service, lightly structured by a few indexed key fields. The object structured data document within the payload becomes transparent to the database. The applications then assume the role of enforcing and understanding the data scheme.

This approach allows the application architect to encode the data structures and meaning directly in the code that creates and consumes the data. So data structure changes required for functional updates can be implemented, tested, and deployed in the application code base with no updates to the database layer at all. (Of course, a conversion of existing NoSQL data documents may be required in situations.)

In this NoSQL approach, the removed translation of object data scheme to a relational structure and, and then back to an object structure again is a very welcome relief as well. --use-the-index-luke.com

• Needing A Database Design Book
• The database curmudgeon speaks again

RAQUEL

After attending NoSQL conference I am really hoping that companies think through this 'big data' implementation! No one there was interested in Data model ... and said so ... forget the data model ... even 'standards' were looked at 'its 'too early' for this new technology ... and no one could tell us anything about 'meta-data'...!!!!! --LinkedIn.com

The Principle of Orthogonal Database Design Part I