I've decided to build a database tracking the credit card offers I get in the mail, and one confounding factor has been how to represent the offers. With minimum finance charges and variable rates and mimimum variable rates it gets a bit more complex than "10.99 percent". I've decided I need to construct a language to represent these things if I have a shot at comparing or trending these offers.
The question is, how do I represent this? The formulas are far too complex to model by creating fields, so I'll just store the formula in the DB in all it's glory. Yes, this means blurring the line between data and execution, but since this is a personal project I'm not so worried.
- Embedded python. Represent the formula as Python and just bind relevant variables and call the formula.
- Use a Domain Specific Language. I can't be the first person to think of representing things this way, and in fact I know I'm not. Are there any free, public languages that can represent this?
Can anyone offer advice on which approach is better?