[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: XML Database vs. OO Database
Mike: [shameless self promotion and correction] Ipedo is not an "in-memory database." It is a home-grown hierarchical database, written entirely in Java, optimized for managing XML data. The "in-memory" component is our patent-pending in-memory indexing technology which, in essence, maps both the index and the data the index references into highly optimized in-memory data structures. Persistence of XML is in our proprietary XML database, not a RDBMS. We integrate with RDBMS systems utilizing our Integration Manager which supports bi-directional synchronization between Ipedo and RDBMS systems. [shameless self promotion and correction ends] Cheers, Chris Chris Parkerson Product Manager http://www.ipedo.com Direct (650)306-4027 Fax (650)306-4001 -----Original Message----- From: Mike Champion [mailto:mc@x...] Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2002 8:54 AM To: xml-dev@l... Subject: Re: XML Database vs. OO Database 5/19/2002 10:15:53 AM, "Joseph Barnes" <JBarnes@r...> wrote: > Hey listees, Can anyone point me to an intro level resource (web or > print) describing the differences/ benefits between implementing a > native XML database and an OO database? Some good starting points are http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2001/10/31/nativexmldb.html http://www.rpbourret.com/xml/XMLDatabaseProds.htm http://xml.apache.org/xindice/FAQ http://www.eaijournal.com/PDF/StoringXMLChampion.pdf [shameless self promotion] I personally [not sure what the official corporate position is these days] suspect a misunderstanding -- "native XML" now means that the logical database model is XML, so users don't have to think about mapping XML data to some underlying storage model. That storage model could be an RDBMS, and OODB, or something designed for XML. So, there are a couple of ways to look at this question: Perhaps you're asking whether it makes more sense to store your Java objects natively in an OO datbase as opposed to serializing them in XML and storing them in an XML database? Perhaps Excelon/ObjectDesign has some information on this, since they support both scenarios. In general, though, the "native" XML approach has the same advantages and disadvantages of XML itself: platform independence, vendor neutrality, universal support on one hand, some loss of efficiency in the serialization/parse on the other. Or perhaps you've already got XML data and are asking whether it makes more sense to use an XML database with an underlying storage system that is optimized for XML (e.g., Tamino or Xindice) vs one that is built on an OODB (Excelon), an RDBMS (B-Bop) or an in-memory DB/RDBMS cache (Ipedo). [BTW, this is my best understanding of these products, somebody correct me if I'm wrong] I doubt if there is a one-size-fits-all answer here. First, the degree to which the underlying storage model is really optimized for XML is a proprietary technology / trade secret of the vendors. Second, there are no standard benchmarks, and anyone can define tests to make themselves look good. (E.g., in-memory databases are REALLY fast as long as you have less data than memory; powerful indexing schemes to improve the speed of complex queries usually require more time when instances are inserted, etc.). The only benchmarks that should be taken seriously at this point are those designed to match the hardware, data volumes, data types, and usage patterns of a specific installation. Or perhaps you have lots of RDBMS data and want to import/export XML? That's a whole different scenario .... the XML-enablement features of your RDBMS system might be well-suited to your needs, or your increasing needs to handle XML may quickly overwhelm them, or you may find it useful to setup a native XML database in the "neutral zone" between diverse RDBMS systems with incompatible XML features. Anyway, the point of all this rambling is that you're asking a question with no straightforward answer.
|
PURCHASE STYLUS STUDIO ONLINE TODAY!Purchasing Stylus Studio from our online shop is Easy, Secure and Value Priced! Download The World's Best XML IDE!Accelerate XML development with our award-winning XML IDE - Download a free trial today! Subscribe in XML format
|