Workshop DYNAMICS 97: (Trans)Actions and Change in Logic Programming and Deductive Databases

The static semantics of logic programming languages and the evaluation of queries is well understood. However, there is no consensus about the appropriate treatment of dynamic behaviour, i.e., the evolution of databases or even entire programs with time. Thus, in spite of substantial progress in the theory and implementation of logic programming and deductive databases, they are likely to be ruled out as platforms for information systems unless viable and widely accepted solutions are found to the question of dynamics. In addition, the need is not only for complex rule bases, but also for standard database functionality, such as concurrent access, transaction isolation and atomicity, large amounts of data, data distribution, recovery from system failures, etc. The problems to be solved span all of logic programming and databases, from theory to implementation.

Among others, the following topics have to be addressed: abduction, active logic databases, concurrency, consistency and integrity, cooperation, communication, and interaction between actions, distributed (trans)actions, dynamic agents, dynamic constraints, dynamics of logic and database systems, the frame problem, hypothetical query answering, implementation issues, logical transactions and updates, planning, reactive systems, reasoning about update programs, reasoning about workflows, semantics and proof theory, transaction specification, updating incomplete information, updates vs revision, and workflow specification.

Fortunately, a number of solid approaches to dynamic behavior are beginning to emerge. This workshop is intended to bring together researchers in the field and to stimulate discussion on the foundations of (trans)actions and change in logic programming and deductive databases.