Developers DO need to be concerned with functionality, but coding and testing of the complication caused by date-effectivity timestamps is vastly reduced.  Building an application using the Ld8a framework was the only practical solution given the complexity of the UK Met Office requirement.

The Ld8a Framework enables all off shore data to be stored with its periods of effect and all associated reference data autonomously maintained with complete "Time Travel" access. The ability for the users to navigate the “as updated at” and “as effective at” times is provided with minimal effort making the development process fast, accurate and highly innovative.