RE: XSLT, Web applications, and "native XML databases"

I've asked a similar question at the XML conference(s) over the last few
years.  The responses have usually been an initial look of surprise (why
would you want to do that) and then, after some thought, a comment that
it would be fairly simple to add an extension function to allow a
transformation of a node that was pulled via XQuery.  But I also don't
know why this hasn't become a common feature.  If anything, I think it
would allow people to use what they are most comfortable with "out of
the box".


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wendell Piez [mailto:wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 12:06 PM
> To: xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re:  XSLT, Web applications, and "native XML databases"
>
> Hi,
>
> At 09:00 PM 1/6/2009, Robert wrote:
> >>I am a huge fan of XSLT and document-oriented XML.
> >>
> >>I realize this may be slightly off-topic, but I am looking for a
> >>Java-friendly (XSLT-friendly) XML database.
> >
> >Depends what you mean by XSLT-friendly, but I would say there isn't
> >one (perhaps X-Hive - EMC is but not much is known about it).
> >
> >But, eXist is the most common open source (free) XML DB. If you have
> >an extra million bucks sitting around, you will probably want
> >MarkLogic's offering.
>
> This is an excellent question, and even on-topic if we insist that a
> requirement be that the db also work well with XSLT.
>
> I've messed with more than one XML db, but nothing that fits the bill
> directly. eXist, which has been on my list for a long time, might.
> eXist does have a contingent of vocal fans -- some of whom I hope we
> hear from, especially if they can report (a) how well it works with
> XSLT and (b) what its actual strengths and weaknesses are.
>
> To broaden the question, hanging in the air is the concern over
> whether and how XML db technologies will support XSLT. As we've
> discussed earlier on this list, this seems like a natural fit,
> allowing for XQuery for optimized data manipulation and XSLT for
> presentation and interchange. But for whatever reason, DB vendors
> seem to be skittish about XSLT.
>
> Where's the DB that will break through this and take over the market
> with the superior mix of technologies?
>
> Cheers,
> Wendell
>
>
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