DBperl. Database Independent API for Perl.

The following two messages contain Section 1 and Section 2 of the current draft DBperl API Specification.

Extract from Section 1...

1. INTRODUCTION TO DBperl

   ---

1.1 Purpose of DBperl

The purpose of the DBperl API (Application Perl-script Interface) is to create a common set of extensions (usubs) to perl to enable interaction between applications and various database engines. DBperl (yes this is the officially recognized and approved capitalization and spelling) will allow the creation of database-manipulation scripts without regard for the engine being used to service the SQL requests.

1.2 Background

A number of independent efforts have been made to connect database engines to perl. Interfaces currently exist for Oracle, Sybase, Ingres, Interbase, Informix, Rdb, Unify and perhaps others that we are not aware of. All of these interfaces have APIs that are atuned to the peculiarities of their engine back-end and thus a perl script must be changed to work with different engines.

1.3 Current Work

Since around October 1992, a group of interested parties, including the authors of some of the interfaces named above, have been working on (thrashing out) an engine-independent interface specification for what we are calling DBperl.  

The specification is currently at the 0.5 revision level and is nearing completion. It's around 2000 lines and 80Kb long. The first two sections are now being distributed to comp.lang.perl and the comp.databases.* newsgroups to gather some feedback and encourage interested parties to join in the (hopefully) final review process.  

---

If you are a user of an existing perl database interface then DBperl
should be of interest because it will eventually replace your current
interface.

Anyone unfamiliar with the perl language is strongly recommended to
fetch the perl FAQ files from convex.com and join comp.lang.perl.

Section 1 contains details of how you can comment on or contribute to
this work by posting to or joining our mailing list. Anyone with an
interest is very welcome to join in, especially if you have experience
working with database interfaces.

Thankyou.

Regards,
Tim Bunce.