Is anyone investigating an extensible rdbms file system for kde or linux in general? Here's what I mean:
[list] rdbms = relational database management system
.
file system = data is broken into 'bulk' and metadata components
extensible = metadata can be defined per application through means of a template.
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I see such a system as being required to be competative with MS. It could, for example, provide a convergence of email storage with file storage, where each email is a distinct 'file' type, and can be manipulated exactly as a normal 'file'. Such a system might also be available to store contact information, schedules, and other k application metadata and data.
Implicit in such a framework is that the filesystem would look like any other, at least through Konqueror, much like tgz files are handled today (as in the email example, above). Such a system could also provide uniform input for data through a simple templating system, and automatic version control (the software I have illustrates these concepts). Imagine rolling back to a prior configuration for any app which uses such a framework. A uniform API might mean that a single applications could function on whole swathes of data types, e.g. a universal XML input-output.
One might approach this at the OS level, but that is probably unsettling and premature. If, however, a suite such as kde were to adopt such a framework, developers could convert to it over time, and users would benefit significantly.
I have some software I could provide towards an effort as a proof of concept. This is probably the wrong place to post, but any pointers on where to discuss this would be most welcome.
Any thoughts on this? Is a similar framework being design or in place?[/list]