Create a New Datatype

[Andy Gurzynski]

I would like to create a new datatype to the MySQL database. I program best using C# in a Visual Studio programming environment.

The type I would like to create is what could be called an interval type and would look like this:

[1/1/2012:1/10/2012]

I would also like to create operators on the type, so operations like the one below could be done:

set @interval1 := [1/1/2012:1/10/2012]
set @interval2 := [1/5/2012:1/15/2012]

select @interval1 overlaps @interval2

The result set of the select above that uses the type interval with the operator overlaps would be:

[1/5/2012:1/10/2012]

along with other operators on the interval type.

I would like to expand the SQL of MySQL to support my new type and the operators I develop with it.

My question is, is this possible? I would like to stay within my area of programming expertise, that is C# in a Visual Studio environment.

If possible, how large an effort would this be? Although I am most comfortable in a Visual Studio environment using C#, what would be the best environment, if programming expertise was not an issue?

Thank you