Deferred data definition statements

A method comprising:

• receiving a first data definition statement signaling creation of a first database object, the first data definition statement specifying a dependency of the first database object on a non-existing second database object;
• determining whether a first deferred clause is included in the first data definition statement, the first deferred clause allowing creation of the first database object with a dependency on the non-existing second database object by preventing a semantic analysis from being performed on the first data definition statement;
• the semantic analysis including validating a relationship between the first database object and the non-existing second database object;
• and
• based on the first deferred clause being included in the first data definition statement, creating the first database object with the dependency on the non-existing second database object without performing the semantic analysis of the first data definition statement;
• receiving a second data definition statement signaling modification of the first database object with the dependency on the non-existing second database object;
• detecting a second deferred clause in the second data definition statement;
• and
• based on the detecting of the second deferred clause in the second data definition statement, modifying the first database object in accordance with the second data definition statement.

A tangible machine-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a first data definition statement signaling creation of a first database object, the first data definition statement specifying a dependency of the first database object on a non-existing second database object, the first data definition statement including a first deferred clause that allows creation of the first database object with a dependency on the non-existing second database object by preventing a semantic analysis from being performed on the first data definition statement, the semantic analysis including validating a relationship between the first database object and the non-existing second database object;
• detecting the first deferred clause in the first data definition statement;
• based on the first deferred clause being detected in the first data definition statement, creating the first database object with the dependency on the second non-existing database object without performing the semantic analysis of the first data definition statement, the first database object being initially in an invalid state based on the dependency of the database object to a non-existing database object;
• receiving a second data definition statement signaling modification of the first database object;
• based on the second data definition statement including a second deferred clause, modifying the first database object in accordance with the second data definition statement, the first database object remaining in the invalid state as a result of the modifying;
• and
• storing the first database object in a database.