Having launched its Foundation.2000 internet database last month, Informix Corp this week added XML support to the platform boasting higher performance speeds than rival vendors. Informix says that by implementing the standard natively into its database indexing speeds are 50 to a hundred times faster than on equivalent platforms from competitors such as Oracle Corp and Baan NV. By contrast, it says, those vendors add XML as separate add-on to the database, in the form of a binary large object (or Blob), which slows down querying speeds.
The implementation is supported through Informix’s Web Datablade module. It allows a database to generate dynamic XML data and documents via an SQL interface. Users will be able to publish XML data over the internet, either to an XML web browser or XML enabled-applications using the HTTP protocol. An early developer’s release will be made available later this year through the Informix Developers Network at www.informix.com/idn.
Implementing the standard is the first stage on its XML roadmap, Informix says. In the first half of next year, it will deliver other XML-enabled products including a server-based workflow engine and an XML metadata repository. Informix also plans to support standards like XSL, XML Schema, XML Query Language, XML Linking and XML Infoset.
