LMPX.COM :: Tim Bunce :: Re: Outline spec for DBI2

From: Tim Bunce Date: Tue Sep 26 03:01:12 2006

Subject: Re: Outline spec for DBI2 - or DBDI?

On Mon, Sep 25, 2006 at 03:56:29PM -0700, Jonathan Leffler wrote:
> Dear Tim,
> 
> Is there yet an outline spec for DBI2?

Only in the sense that I'd said it'll be the DBI v1 API layered over
the JDBC API.

Sticking with the DBI v1 API avoids opening many cans of worms and much
'bikesheding'. It lets us focus on the internal structure. I suspect a
DBI v2 API will naturally emerge in time.

Using JDBC for the DBI<->DBD interface gives us a mature, proven,
documented, testable API with broad functionality and support.

> Do you have any even tentative
> release dates for such a thing?  Is it something that might happen in
> 2006, or is it something that might gel in 2007, or is it longer term
> than that?

I certainly hope it "gels in 2007".

> Similarly for the DBDI - which is I think the underlying interface to
> the database drivers.

(I suspect DBDI will end up being called 'PDBC' to echo its 'JDBC' roots.)

I think the DBI portion will be significantly less work than the JDBC
portion. The DBI API is basically just a thin layer adapting JDBC to Perl.

I've not looked much at the implementation side of JDBC yet.  For now
I'm just using my perl5 JDBC module (ie the 'real' Java JDBC).  That
can't continue forever.

What's needed is a 'driver implementation framework' that makes it
relatively easy for anyone to implement a driver. Something like a JDBC
version of the DBD::_::* classes and Driver.xst - though hopefully
much better than both :)

I'm sure, or at least I hope, there are open source JDBC driver
frameworks (probably in Java) that can be used as the basis of a design.
The next best thing is to take an open source JDBC driver and refactor
it to more clearly separate database specific components from the more
general 'framework'.

> I've been asked about this at work - and said there was not much
> activity on the lists.

True. I think the main problem, or at least a problem, is that I've not
had a chunk of time to dive into the work that Bálint Szilakszi did
for the google Summer of Code.

I'm hoping to devote a couple of days to that next week but don't wait
for me! Anyone can dive in: http://svn.perl.org/modules/dbi2/trunk/

Tim.

Navigate in group perl.dbi2.dev at sever nntp.perl.org
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From:	Tim Bunce	Date:	Tue Sep 26 03:01:12 2006
Subject:	Re: Outline spec for DBI2 - or DBDI?