Query 2.0 and Cloud Computing: special 'SQL' for unstructured data proposed

I have written about the Query 2.0 and Query 3.0 frameworks. I haven't had the time to do sketch that all out. I soon will.

Read my predictions on Query if you need to read more on that.

Google is the Query 1.0 leader. Microsoft is planning to up Google's old 1.0 plans with its $ 44 Bn acquisition of Yahoo, but I really wonder if that will help them. We have several newer players like Facebook, LinkedIn, all offering parts of the Query 2.0 architecture. You know who is already heading towards the Query 2.5 (if not already 3) Model? Yes, you guessed it right! Amazon!!!

I was getting some warmth from their data centers when I saw that they were doing simple DB query, they offer simpler and easier means of offering you data or to say in the data terms "result sets". The key is simplification, we are seeing a simplification of infrastructure and true, Virtualization is helping us get there. But it will just disappear in the Q4Q Optimization, meaning Quest for Query Optimization. Firms like xkoto are already offering alternatives to cool technologies that Oracle RAC offered, I love them but eventually they end up being too expensive and as markets shake and tumble, people start turning their heads to more cheaper and innovative solutions. This news coverage of Amazon says the same thing too. Ok so its not there yet but the solid transactional capabilities will and can be handled by players such as xkoto.

And now for the special SQL article:

The objective of the draft CMIS specification is to deliver a common REST or Web Services, an API that can be used to develop write-once, run-anywhere, next generation content and social applications.

Newton believes the SQL comparison was a good one. "The query language that will be used within the spec is actually a form of SQL, offering several options for querying the repository, including location, properties, and full-text" he said. "There's a huge amount of unstructured data out there and we should be able to query it in exactly the same way that we query databases, what's been holding us back is the lack of an SQL," he added.

Most of the leading software vendors are involved in developing the specification. Besides Alfresco, the participants are EMC, IBM, Microsoft, OpenText, Oracle, and SAP. Newton said that it there will certainly be other vendors willing to work with the specification but no other vendors were approached: "It's been pretty hard keeping it a secret for the past two years but now that it's an open spec, we can expect others to work with it," he said.

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