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native xml processing vs what Postgres and Oracle offer

From: salmobytes <salmobytes_at_closenuf.org>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:17:23 -0700
Message-ID: <EbWdncb60ebp34XUnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d_at_bresnan.com> 





I'm thinking about starting a hobby project.
I wrote a files-based Bulletin Board years ago.
I'd like to convert it to a more database-like system, so
password-identified users could edit old posts.



Forums are inherently hierarchical and hierarchies are
tough with relations. I have modeled relational hierarchies in
the past, with what Joe Celko calls "path enumeration."
That works, but it's a bit ugly and making indexes on loooong
path-strings that all start off the same way is messy.



I'd rather work directly with hierarchies: with XML.
For native XML processing you can work with SleepyCat,
Exist or even Xindice (or expensive proprietary products
like Mark Logic or Ipedo).



But Oracle and Postgres have a way to stuff XML blobs
into a column now, and also a way to query with XPath
over those XML blobs



The native XML databases (SleepyCat etc) all require running a tomcat
server, while postgres is a bit easier to setup and install.



PUNCHLINE QUESTION, sort of.


I've worked with SleepyCat, Exist and Tomcat.
It's pretty powerful stuff and it has a lot to offer.
Mapping between GUI and data is oh so easy with
hierarchies, compared to relations. But what about
performance? I've never worked with Oracle/Postgres
XML XPath querying. And I've heard rumors it's dog slow
above a certain size/traffic threshold.


Any comments?  Anybody done much with Postgres/XML?
Have any comparisons to SleepyCat?
Received on Mon Nov 10 2008 - 15:17:23 CET












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