Incremental Computation Techniques in Databases

This guide outlines incremental computation (IC) techniques in databases, focusing on their efficiency and application. Incremental computation is defined as a software feature that minimizes the work needed to update outputs, contrasting with traditional full refresh methods. The document explains the concept of an Incremental Computation System, which simplifies user interaction while managing the complexities of incremental computation. It discusses the challenges developers face in adopting IC, such as the difficulty in thinking incrementally and the limitations of existing systems. The guide also highlights the advantages of incremental computation in various areas, including compilers and DOM updating, while addressing the lack of widespread implementation in databases. It emphasizes the need for incremental compute systems to facilitate a shift from code-centric to data-centric architectures, enhancing capabilities and aligning with modern application designs. The document concludes with a description of Materialize, a database that utilizes incremental computation to optimize data processing.