WODA: The Web Oriented Database

This document provides basic information about WODA - Web Oriented Database - for potential users. The Administrator's manual provides more information for database administrators and the help file for the end users.

Contents:

• What does the name stand for ?
• What can I do with WODA ?
• What are WODA's main features ?
• What could be WODA's weaknesses ?
• What platform does it run on ?
• What browser to use when working with WODA ?
• How fast is it, anyway?
• Can I get a copy ?
• Who is the author ?
• Where is it indexed?

What does the name stand for ?

Woda stands for "Web Oriented DAtabase". This does not mean it is not relational or object-oriented but that it is optimized for the use on the Web. In many Indo-European languages, words sounding like "woda" mean water - therefore the tap and the moisture on this Web page. It is also true, that Woda is caffeine free. No Java, SQL, PhP, C# inside.

What can I do with WODA ?

Any simple database application which:

• Should run on the WWW,
• requires user input and
• can be modeled as a few loosely related tables.

Examples of such applications are membership lists, bibliographies, document archives, virtual journals and libraries, catalogues, hot lists, classifieds, discussion systems, mailing list archives, rings of web pages, questionnaires ...

Payroll systems, blood bank applications, military strength applications are not what you would use WODA for (although it would be tempting).

What are WODA's strenths ?

The usual way of developing database applications is to define the schema and the application logic, and create the three tier structure:

1. implement the data storage in SQL,
2. the application logic in a programming language (such as C, C#, PHP ...) and
3. define the user interface as a combination of static html files and dynamically generated pages.

The approach taken by Woda is radically different. One just needs to define what the data to be managed is. If, for example, it includes the handling of a person's name, all the we know about names is stored in one place. How a name is displayed, how is it entered, who is allowed to enter it etc. Based on this hundered of different pages needed to use and manage the application are generated automatically.

• WODA is relying on an extensive data definition structures that allow the manager of the database to rapidly define the whole database system without programming or defining individual screens or forms. Decent application can be done without any HTML coding or programming. Basic knowledge of programming principles is welcome, though.
• WODA is easy to install and self contained. No other libraries or packages are required. Only Perl language interpreter and an httpd server must be available.
• No CPAN modules are required; no database (like mySQL) is needed.
• After WODA is installed and set up, 99.9% of all database development tasks can be done from within the browser. The database definition is done through forms using browser or even using sample data.
• WODA's data storage is robust. Data is stored in ASCII files, easy to read, port, hack ...
• WODA supports several field types including TEXT, TEXTAREA, HTMLAREA, OPTION, LINKOPTION, DATE, EMAIL, URL, FILE, USERFILE, COMPUTE and BREAK.
• WODA allows for rich text editing (WYSIWYG) of HTMLAREA type fields which makes it an ideal tool for a content management application.
• WODA can include binary fields, like documents, images, movies, etc. of any size.
• There is no limit to size of record or number of records other than those imposed by the Web server's file system.
• WODA uses industry standard (e.g. Yahoo, AltaVista) search syntax. 'Best-match' searching does a full text search of the database and provides relevancy ratings.
• Complex searches can be assembled using friendly query builder interface similar to other query building applications (e.g. MS Query).
• Searches are remembered and can be stored. Search history is maintained.
• Several browsing options are generated automatically based on OPTION fields, e.g. Yahoo like hierarchical browsing and several other, more sophisticated.
• The system messages can be translated. From English, WODA has been translated into German, French, Spanish, Swedish, Croatian and Slovenian.
• Each record may be password protected by the person who entered it.
• Database administrator can create user based protection of operations and data, based on server side authentication, username/password validation within WODA or host name based authentication within WODA.
• Database administration is web based - the administrator may delete outdated records, generate static .html pages and even change the database definition ... all from within a browser.
• WODA remembers. It remembers user's options, when he last searched for something (so that we can show only changes since), an item he typically enters into a field (e.g. email address) etc. WODA can store any filled-in form.
• WODA includes an agent that can do searches for the user and remind him of changes periodically by email.
• WODA databases are open and can export/import data from Windows applications such as Microsoft Excel or Access.
• WODA is fast.
• WODA includes shopping basket functionality, which is very handy to collect favorite items from a database and print them out together (e.g. all relevant papers, all interesting people, all interesting links ...).
• WODA handles registration of the users of the database, so the administrator knows who is using the application.
• WODA allows for unlimited undo of all database transactions and backups/restoration of the data.
• WODA maintains its own log files.
• WODA identifies Web robots and treats them as specified.
• WODA can deliver Web Services, inclusing a service to populate the Office 2003 Research Task Pane.
• WODA includes Web Services interfaces (defined in WSDL) and XML API that allows for read/write of data in XML.

What could be WODA's weaknesses ?

• WODA uses the file system and no particular database for data storage. The good thing is, you don't need anything else. The bad is that maybe you'd like WODA to manage databases in mySQL etc.
• The documentation is written by a real person who is a slow typist. So its terse ... still, you are expected to read it.
• Some basic knowledge of Perl language is required since some of the definition attributes are often Perl expressions.
• People who never installed a CGI script on their Web space provider's server find the installation "not trivial". Such installation is suggested for testing and development of applications. Port finished solutions to your ISP's server!

What platform does it run on ?

WODA runs on any platform which supports Perl and CGI interface to a Web server. We know that it is running smoothly on any UNIX system such as HP-UX, Linux, FreeBSD, SGI ... With zero limitations (since 3.300) WODA runs on Windows NT and Windows 9x with Apache or Xitami servers.

What browser to use when working with WODA ?

Most browsers which support forms and tables will do for the basic features. Oldest browser where the user would not be significantly handicapped is Netscape Navigator 2.0. Advanced applications may use frames, JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets. This requires Navigator 2.0+ or Explorer 4.0+. WODA's author is conservative about building latest browser features into WODA. He uses Mozilla as a reference browser.

How fast is it, anyway?

Here's what Sean <cybersean@thedataforge.com> wrote:

About the Database Engine:

The database engine is a PERL script and is about 70k.  The neat thing
about the script, is it provides modularity.  Databases are defined
through smaller PERL script modules, and these definition files just pass
variables and values to the main script.  It is highly customizable and
configurable, it is under the GNU Public license, and is written and
maintained by a college professor in Slovenia.  Initial testing resulted
in phenomenal perfomance on all of these platforms:

==> Novell IntranetWare 4.11, Netscape Enterprise Server 2.0, Novell's PERL.NLM Interpreter

==> Highly customized commercial (undisclosed vendor) Unix package on a public access Internet server, Netscape Enterprise Server 2.0 for Unix

==> 486 DX 100 PC with 64MB Ram, 8.1 GB IDE Hard Drive, 10mbps shared ethernet, Linux Slackware 4.0, Xitami web/ftp server, PERL for Linux

==> Pentium III 300mhz with 180MB Ram, 8.1 GB IDE Hard Drive, 100mbps switched ethernet, Windows 98, Xitami web/ftp server, and Active State PERL for Win32.

==> Testing for OS/2 Warp 4 Netfinity Server by the end of June 1999:
Pentium II 300mhz with 128MB Ram, 100mbps switched ethernet, 4.3GB hard drive, Xitami web/ftp server, PERL for OS/2

Here's what <Wilfred@Cryogen.com> wrote:

Regarding benchmarking...   [deleted] ... i' ve compared it to a similarly complex implementation of a SQL mess, and nothing is better for actively changing database information...

-Faster and more powerful than any SQL implementation
-no competition? !!!
-yes im serious... >10,000 records with 25+ categories... other formats cant handle it...

Can I get a copy ?

Yes. WODA is free software, however it is copyrighted and some licensing limitations apply. Read the license before you download. And after you download, you should read the Administrator's Manual.

Who is the author ?

Ziga Turk from the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, Slovenia, Europe.

Where is it indexed:

Many places, but these guys asked for a link back. BTW, I'm letting you use WODA for free. So if you have a minute, please submit it to any lists, resource indexes and search engines. The more users there are, the more help you will get from them.

• The CGI Resource Index
• www.hotscripts.com site