Apparently there are only three people, the
proprietor and two part-time workers, who will be accessing the database. Probably there will also
be only one computer from which to access the database, unless the owner, working from home,
also logs in.
In these conditions, one could argue that the default read_committed isolation level will be
more than adequate. One could also argue that the modest performance requirements of this application
mean that we should use the serializeable isolation level. Such precaution will give us the most
protection, and no one will notice any performance impairment, since the application is undemanding
of high performance.
ANSWERS TO REVIEW QUESTIONS 213
SOCIAL ISSUES
9.1 Should software be copyrightable or patentable? Ignoring the law for the moment, argue the question
from the Kantian, Utilitarian, and Social Contract Theory perspectives.
While there is not a single correct answer to this question for all people, answers to this question
should include observations along the following lines:
The Kantian would ask the question, ???Am I comfortable with everyone being able to copyright or
patent their software????
The Utilitarian would try to sum the advantages and disadvantages to all concerned.
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