RDF::Server 0.08

toolkit for building RDF servers

INSTALLATION

Installation follows standard Perl CPAN module installation steps:

cpan> install RDF::Server

or, if not using the CPAN tool, then from within the unpacked

distribution

     % perl Makefile.PL
     % make
     % make test
     % make install

DESCRIPTION

RDF::Server provides a flexible framework with which you can design your own RDF service. By dividing itself into several areas of responsibility, the framework allows you to mix and match any capabilities you need to create the service that fits your RDF data and how you need to access it.

The `rdf-server' script is installed as an easy-to-use way of building and running an RDF::Server service. Some sample configuration files are in the `examples' directory of the RDF::Server distribution.

The framework identifies four areas of responsibility:

Protocol

The protocol modules manage the outward facing part of the framework and translating the requested operation into an HTTP::Request object that is understood by any of the interface modules. Conversely, it translates the resulting HTTP::Response object into the form required by the environment in which the server is operating.

For example, the Embedded protocol provides a Perl API that can be used by other modules without having to frame operations in terms of HTTP requests and responses.

The methods expected of protocol modules are defined in RDF::Server::Protocol. The outward-facing API is dependent on the environment the server is expected to operate within.

Available protocols in the standard distribution: RDF::Server::Protocol::Embedded, RDF::Server::Protocol::HTTP.

Interface

The interface modules define how the HTTP requests are translated into operations on various handlers that manage different aspects of the RDF triple store.

Semantic

The semantic modules define the meaning attached to and information contained in the various documents and the heirarchy of resources available through the interface modules. Most of the content handlers are attached to a particular semantic.

The available semantics are: RDF::Server::Semantic::Atom, RDF::Server::Semantic::RDF.

Formatters

The same information can be rendered in several different formats. The format modules manage this rendering.

The available formatters are: RDF::Server::Formatter::Atom, RDF::Server::Formatter::JSON, RDF::Server::Formatter::RDF.

NAMESPACE DESIGN

The RDF::Server namespace is divided into these broad areas:

Protocol

        Modules in RDF::Server::Protocol provide the interface with the
        world. Examples include HTTP, Apache/mod_perl, and FastCGI.

Interface

        RDF::Server::Interface modules determine the type of URI and HTTP
        method management that is used. RDF::Server comes with a REST
        interface.

Semantic

        RDF::Server::Semantic modules manage the configuration and
        interpretation of URIs once the Interface module has passed the
        request on. RDF::Server comes with an Atom semantic of URI
        heirarchies and configuration.

Formatter

        RDF::Server::Formatter modules translate the internal data
        structures to particular document types. The formatter for a request
        is selected by the Interface module.

Model

        RDF::Server::Model modules interface between the Semantic and
        Formatter modules and the backend triple store.

Resource

        RDF::Server::Resource modules represent particular resources and
        associated data within a triple store.

BUGS

There are bugs. The test suite only covers a little over 90% of the code. Bugs may be reported on rt.cpan.org or by e-mailing bug-RDF-Server at rt.cpan.org.

AUTHOR

James Smith, `<jsmith@cpan.org>'

LICENSE

Copyright (c) 2008 Texas A&M University.

This library is free software. You can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.