The project description for Joost Diepenmaat’s Msc project has been finalized. The project is being supervised by me and Jan Flokstra.

Object XML Mapping
Database Management Systems (DBMSs) play an important role in application development. Almost every information system stores its information in a DBMS. Nowadays, the application domain requires, more and more, specific and detailed storage structures for complex objects. This application domain ranges from document standards we use every day (e.g. OpenXML for word processing) to specific business process documents (e.g. the Universal Business Language for purchase, orders, invoices, etc.). Due to these complex, but useful standards, there is a stronger need for agile adoption techniques within the development frameworks.
It would be easier to access XML data using mechanisms that fit in the application development language better. Object Relational Mappings/Domain Models currently support this for the relational SQL world. As they manage interconnected objects, where each object represents something meaningful within the application domain. A Domain Model in an application contains a whole layer of objects that model the business you’re working in. These objects mimic the data in the business and/or capture the business rules.

The thesis studies the possibilities of an Object XML Mapping with XML/XPath as a base language for persistent storage. We explore and describe the fundamentals of Object XML Mappings. Various database back-ends (with or without build in XML support) will be studied. A ruby-based prototype implementation with support for build in XML database (XPath Accelerator) or a native databases will show the capabilities of the Object XML Mapping.