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We are looking for some feedback regarding usage patterns and requirements for XML databases on mobile devices (Palm, PocketPC, RIM, J2ME devices, etc.), including mobile XML data synchronization patterns and usage. If you're using (or will be using) XML in a mobile development project, we'd like to hear your experiences and opinions -- the more opinionated, the better. We've also written a white paper entitled "XML and Handhelds: Building Mobile Applications" located at: http://www.tendara.com/pdf/XMLandHandheldsWhitepaper.pdf The paper describes the utility of a mobile XML database, XML synchronization and database compression/encryption techniques. For example, a 3MB XML text file is represented in 900K of memory on the target device (compressed object representation, full DOM traversal API, lazy decompression of nodes as they are referenced, etc.). We think of it as data stores from XML sources "on the go." Using the XML engine on a PocketPC (iPAQ) simply does not scale. Any mobile war stories, usage patterns (including synchronization needs), feedback or flames can be directed here or to daniel@t.... Thank you in advance for your time. Best Regards, Daniel Lanovaz daniel@t... http://www.tendara.com ======================= CUT HERE ==================== If you're not familiar with XML databases, one good introduction is Ronald Bourret's summary located at: http://www.rpbourret.com/xml/XMLAndDatabases.htm Or an article by David McGoveran: http://www.eaijournal.com/PDF/XMLMcGoveran.pdf Issues of particular interest to us: + Does your application require access to local data on a mobile device? If so, how much data needs to be stored locally? Would data access mostly involve reading, writing, or both reading and writing in equal portions? + Are your mobile data storage needs best met by a mobile XML database or the alternatives (flat XML text files, relational databases, application-specific databases, etc.)? + Do you need to synchronize changes to XML data between mobile devices and central data stores? In which direction? + What types of application programming interfaces (APIs) to XML data would you find most useful on the mobile device? DOM and XPath? From which languages? JavaScript? VisualBasic? Java? C/C++? C#? Any .NET language? + How important is data compression to your application? Would you find a mobile XML database capable of representing a 3MB XML file in 900K of memory, fully parsed and available through DOM and XPath APIs, helpful to your off-line applications? + What mobile devices are you using? Pocket PC? Palm OS? RIM? Cell phones? + Do you have any experiences or war stories that you'd like to relate regarding XML on mobile devices? Anything that you found particularly hard or problematic? Best regards, Daniel Lanovaz daniel@t... http://www.tendara.com
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