As typical databases evolve and the schema defining the stored data changes, difficulties arise in interfacing with the database and compatibility to applications may be lost. Provided for are methods for retrieving data stored in a database using versioned reference perspectives of edges, which define relationships between nodes. The methods provide for backwards-compatibility in accessing node-data stored in accordance with a pre-defined schema based upon a request including a version identifier. Also provided for are backend systems, frontend systems, and industrial machines for the manipulation of work products.