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Sneak Peek at IBM 'Viper' DB2 Release
Rob let us know that Computer Business Review magazine is reporting that IBM is about to add more fuel to the database fire. The company has offered up a sneak peek at their upcoming "Viper" release of their DB2 database. From the article: "DB2 Viper will be distinct from current DB2 database implementations in that it will be able to store XML formatted data inside the database natively--XML support will not be bolted onto the side. Viper will also support relational data stores, of course, and access to those database tables using the SQL programming language."
the SQL programming language
It's a query language. Ffs, the name even says so.
Although, on second thought, the name also says it's structured.
I had a sneak peak once in high school. Very embarrasing.
Oracle's had this for years. Since v 8, I think? (corrections welcome)
;-)
Glad to oblige
Oracle basically chucks it's XML into a LOB, and you can search the lob for strings, etc.
What IBM has actually breaks down the XML, creating a tree structure behind the scenes. There may be no out-and-out benefits at the moment, but the solution is a much better implementation than Oracle. The applications will come.
Visit here and have a look at the paper "An Overview of Native XML Support in DB2". Also maybe see "Learn how IBMs new XML technology differs from other XML storage", which is a link to a Register article.
Note to ACs: I won't mod you up, even if you are being funny or insightful. So take a chance! It's not real life!
I am the vinder viper!!!! I vill be there in three months!!! I come to vipe your vindows!!!
The strange thing about this development is that the navigation model used by XML is essentially :-)
the old "network" model used by among other CODASYL in the early seventies. This model
became unfashionable when the relational model gained popularity, but seems to be quite fashionable
when it is wrapped in XML syntax
> It still sucks for real time applications. DB2 is a good warehouse DB, good for batch processes and such.
The differences between oracle & db2 for transactional apps are mostly:
- db2 is about 1/3rd the cost of oracle
- db2 is faster
- db2 includes some warehousing features (range-partitioning via MDC) for free which are often also useful in these applications
- db2 is simpler to administer
- oracle has a locking interface that's easier to use (MVC instead of row-locks)
- db2 likes to use static sql that requires binds (pita, but optional)
> I must admit those IBM guys know how to butter the sales to the management with all those golf subscriptions,
> hockey tickets what have you.
Hmmm, i've worked with sales staff from quite a few different companies. But I've never worked with people as nasty as at oracle. They go *way* beyond mere buttering up of management all the way to stabbing the technical staff in the back when the want their professional services team to get their work, or when the oracle product fails to deliver the labor savings that sales promised. Oh, and then there's the famous oracle trick of leaving vital pieces of the product out of the discounted original deal, and slaying the customer when they discover that these are required...