Rapid Application Evolution and Integration Through Document Metamorphosis

Title: Rapid Application Evolution and Integration Through Document Metamorphosis

Main Research Question: How can structural fluidity, a feature long supported by knowledge-base management systems, be leveraged for data-intensive applications other than knowledge-base management?

Methodology: The researchers used the Bantam API, which provides a data model with mixin-style multiple inheritance for persistent objects. This allowed them to experiment with structural fluidity in the context of data-intensive applications. They built several non-trivial applications using this data model and analyzed their experiences to draw conclusions about the suitability of structural fluidity for decoupled programming methodologies.

Results: The study found that structural fluidity is a convenient approach for data-intensive applications, particularly those using enterprise component frameworks. The Bantam API's flexible data model allowed for the development of applications that could evolve and integrate rapidly, making it an effective method for decoupling data producers and consumers.

Implications: The research suggests that structural fluidity, traditionally used in knowledge-base management, can be applied to data-intensive applications for improved modularity and scalability. This approach can facilitate the development and maintenance of applications using enterprise component frameworks, leading to more efficient and adaptable systems.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0103004v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0103004v1