I was recently reading an interesting posting (and comments) over on Doug Burns' Blog:
http://oracledoug.com/serendipity/index.php?/archives/1394-Theres-Hope-for-us-all.html
Doug's blog is a great resource and I encourage you to check it out if you have a few spare minutes.
I found this interesting because the "debate" around which is more important -- the application or the data -- raises its head every now and then. Now, my being a DBA in my "day job" may automatically bias me in this context; however, I was a developer before I was a DBA. This, of course, does not mean I am bias-free, but I do hope that I am not so closed-minded that I may see multiple sides of a discussion.
When I hear this question (which is more important? the application? or the data? OK, so that is three questions, but you understand.) I immediately think of a question I was posed long ago in school - which is more important, the heart or the blood? Of course there is not a perfect correlation between biology and applications and data, but I think that is not an unreasonable analogy. While not exactly easy, it is possible to find other mechanisms to transport the blood, but it is not so easy to replace the blood itself.
Clearly, both applications and data are important. However, rather than declaring one to be superior to the other, I prefer to view them through the lens of longevity.
We often hear the phrase: 'An application is used to access the data.' To me, this implies transience or change. There will inevitably be a rotating series of applications interacting with that data(base) over time. Meanwhile, the data itself is a persistent business asset. It may be copied, moved, or reorganised over time, but the information it represents often outlives any particular application or technology stack.
If I may borrow a line from The Kinks: 'Rock bands will come and rock bands will go, but Rock 'n Roll will go on forever!' (from a live performance of "All Day and All of the Night" if I recall correctly.)
Applications are the rock bands. Your data is the Rock 'n Roll. So, make sure you're properly backing up your Rock 'n Roll music! Err… data!
