REX

Simple SQL-XML-ReST Mapping

Direct Database to Web Service Service

Sean J. Vaughan, UW IT
 Language Bullies
• …are trying to take authority over data!!!
• SQL  (Java|Python|Perl|Ruby)  XML  HTTP
 Contract First!
• The contract that matters most:
The Web Service
• SQL  (Java|Python|Perl|Ruby)  XML  HTTP
– All try to take over the schemas forcing tough choices
– Multiplies Impedance Mismatch Challenges
– Nope.
 SQL as Data DSL
• SQL  XML  HTTP
 E.g. UW Short Url Service
(usus)

• Like tinyurl, bit.ly, goog.le, etc.

• For Faculty and Staff to brand
shared links.
• (Hypothetical)
 Web Form

url:
 Do it
1. Create Schemas
2. Write SQLX Queries
3. Register in REX UI
 XML Design
• Contract First!
• <UWShortUrl>
<Id>1</Id>
<Url>http://www.washington.edu/</Url>
<UWNetID>vaughan</UWNetID>
</UWShortUrl>
 SQL Schema
• CREATE SEQUENCE usus_id_serial;
• CREATE TABLE USUS (
id int default nextval(‘usus_id_serial’),
url text,
uwnetid text
);
 SQLX Query
• SELECT
XMLElement(name "UWShortUrl",
XMLForest(
id AS "Id",
url AS "Url",
uwnetid AS "UWNetID"
)
FROM usus WHERE id=?::integer;
 SQL/XML
• Some SQLX functions:
– XMLElement
– XMLAgg
– XMLForest
– XMLConcat
• Part of SQL:2008 ISO/IEC standard
• Implemented in Postgresql (partial), MS SQL
Server
• MySQL XML sufficient
 SQLX Query
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION usus_create (data xml)
RETURNS XML AS $$
DECLARE
iurl text := (xpath('/UWShortUrl/Url/text()',data))[1];
iuwnetid text := (xpath('/UWShortUrl/UWNetID/text()',data))[1];
BEGIN
INSERT INTO usus (uwnetid, url)
VALUES(iuwnetid, iurl);
RETURN XMLElement(name "UWShortUrl",
XMLForest(id AS "Id",
url AS "Url",
uwnetid AS "UWNetID")
) FROM usus WHERE uwnetid=iuwnetid AND url=iurl LIMIT 1;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;
REX UI: HTTP Endpoint
 REX in Production
• UW IT
Equipment
Database
(edb)
 REX in Production
• Link Visualization
 REX in Production
• Network Key Performance Indicators
 Extras
• REX Web Services is implemented using REX
• JSON: free
• Supports format in filename suffix:
/rex/usus/shorturl/id/1.xml
/rex/usus/shorturl/id/1.json
 REX on SourceForge
• rex-restsqlxmap
http://sourceforge.net/projects/rex-restsqlxmap/
– Standalone .war
– Or with self-running
Winstone Servlet Container
• Contact us:
– vaughan@uw.edu
– net-tools@uw.edu