[xquery-talk] Comparing XML Databases to Object Databases

[John Snelson]

I agree - this is basically the conclusion I came to. I think there are
a number of factors which give XML databases a better chance than object
databases had:

1) Ubiquity of XML - there's a lot of XML that needs storing.
2) The natural fit with the web, where it needs to be easy to handle 
XML/XHTML/HTML.
3) The presence of a good standard query language and data model.
4) The rise in interest to more closely combine program logic with query 
logic (LINQ etc.)
5) Increasing questioning of the relational model and one size fits all 
databases [1]

John

[1] http://www.computingatscale.com/?p=46

daniela florescu wrote:
> John,
> 
> please tell that person that one thing makes the entire difference
> between the object oriented databases and the XML databases.
> 
> This thing called the "Internet" happened in the meantime, and that
> makes the whole difference.
> 
> XML databases (alone) will not succeed (I think).
> 
> XML application servers will, though (I think).
> 
> That's why it is so important to have a good XQuery scripting extension.
> 
> Best regards
> Dana
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Mar 19, 2008, at 4:28 AM, John Snelson wrote:
> 
>> I had a conversation the other day where XML databases were being 
>> compared to object databases. The person I was talking to suggested 
>> that it was inevitable that XML databases would get subsumed by the 
>> existing RDBMSs on the market, just like object databases had been.
>>
>> I haven't had the benefit of experiencing the rise and fall of object 
>> databases, but I have some opinions as to why I think XML databases 
>> have a better chance than object databases ever had. What does 
>> everyone think? Are XML databases headed for obscurity, or is the time 
>> for them right and the comparison to object databases unfounded?
>>
>> John
>>
>> --John Snelson, Oracle Corporation            http://snelson.org.uk/john
>> Berkeley DB XML:        http://www.oracle.com/database/berkeley-db/xml
>> XQilla:                                  http://xqilla.sourceforge.net
>> _______________________________________________
>> talk at x-query.com
>> http://x-query.com/mailman/listinfo/talk
> 
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
John Snelson, Oracle Corporation            http://snelson.org.uk/john
Berkeley DB XML:        http://www.oracle.com/database/berkeley-db/xml
XQilla:                                  http://xqilla.sourceforge.net