1. A computer-implemented method for managing evaluation of a rule based on a composite event that is defined to consist of multiple primitive events, the method comprising the steps of: determining that a first part of a condition, of the rule, is satisfied by an instance of a first primitive event of the multiple primitive events, wherein the first part of the condition must be satisfied to trigger an action corresponding to the rule; storing, persistently in a first table of a database and based on a first SQL operation on the first table, first state information associated with the first part of the condition and associated with the rule, wherein the first state information represents that the first part of the condition is satisfied by the instance of the first primitive event of the multiple primitive events; wherein the first state information includes a reference to a record, in a second table, of the instance of the first primitive event of the multiple primitive events; determining that a second part of the condition, of the rule, is satisfied by an instance of a second primitive event of the multiple primitive events, wherein the instance of the second primitive event of the multiple primitive events is different than the instance of the first primitive event of the multiple primitive events and wherein the second part of the condition must be satisfied to trigger the action corresponding to the rule; in response to determining that the second part of the condition is satisfied, reading the first state information stored persistently in the first table of the database; and determining, based at least in part on the read first state information stored persistently in the first table of the database, that the first part of the condition and the second part of the condition are satisfied, wherein determining that the first part of the condition and the second part of the condition is satisfied includes identifying, based on a second SQL operation on a third table, the condition in the third table, and wherein reading the first state information includes identifying, based on a third SQL operation on the first table, the first state information in the first table; and wherein the steps are performed on one or more computing devices.