The Design of a Robust Persistence Framework for Relational Databases
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This paper presents the design for a robust persistence layer for using relational databases with object-oriented applications. This design reflects my several years of experience building and using persistence layers in several languages.  Issues that are addressed in this paper: Kinds of persistence layers The class-type architecture Requirements for a persistence layer The design of a persistence layer Implementing the persistence layer Buy vs. build Doing a data load EJB and persistence Supporting the persistence layer

Download: persistenceLayer.pdf (~190k).

There is also a Chinese translation that you can download. New!

You may find Encapsulating Database Access to be of interest as well. New!

I hope that you find this white paper useful and I also hope that you help me to improve it by providing me with feedback. What is your organization doing, or hoping to do? If you disagree with anything that I've said, think about it first because I don't like getting flamed, but then email me with your opinions because I want to hear them. If something isn't well explained or you don't quite understand it, let me know.

Related Links:

• The Object Primer 3rd Edition
• Agile Database Techniques -- The most comprehensive book available when it comes to using object technology and RDBs together effectively
• My other persistence writings
• OSS Persistence layers based on this paper
• Other OSS persistence products
• Other persistence layers and products
• Persistence-related links and papers
  
  

My Other Persistence Writings:

Agile Data Home Page New!

• Agile Best Practices for Data Warehouse (DW)/Business Intelligence (BI) Projects
• Crossing the Object-Data Divide Part 1 and Part 2 
• Database refactoring -- The Process of Database Refactoring  
• Database refactoring -- Catalog of Database Refactorings  
• Mapping Objects To RDBs
• Object Concurrency Control 101
• The "One Truth Above All Else" Anti-Pattern
• Other Online Writings
• A UML Profile for Data Modeling is now posted at www.agiledata.org. 

Open Source Persistence Layers/Products (sort of) based on This Paper:

• Artyom Rudoy's Persistence Layer
• Castor -- Java OSS Persistence Layer
• COBRA OSS Persistence Layer
• IOPC: Implementing Object Persistency in C++
• JC Persistent Framework (Visual Basic)
• MiddleKit -- Python OSS Persistence Layer
• OpenORM -- A C++ persistence layer for CORBA objects
• Osage - Persistence Plus XML  
  

Other OSS Persistence Products:

• AtomsFramework -- VB.NET version
• DB4O.com -- OSS Object Database for Java and .Net embedded applications
• Hibernate -- Java OSS persistence layer
• Java Object Repository Mapping (JORM)
• MySql -- Open source SQL db
• ObJectRelationalBridge (OJB) -- JDO compliant Object/Relational mapping tool
• .netTiers -- Framework for .Net
• PyPerSyst -- The Python Persistence System
• Prevayler -- Asks the question "Are You Still Using a Database?" and then shows you don't need to!
• Ruby on Rails Active Record -- A persistence framework for Ruby.
• SimpleORM -- Java persistence layer
• TechInsite Persistence Framework -- Delphi

Other Persistence Products:

• Bold for Delphi -- Includes a persistence mapping feature for Borland/Inprise Delphi
• BSF Object Relational Framework -- Object Matter
• Blend -- Java persistence layer from Sun.
• Building an Object Database (Java World)
• Cerebellum eCom Integrator - Cerebellum Software, maps EJB components to relational, legacy, and SAP data
• CocoBase -- A Java persistence layer from THOUGHT Inc.
• CorbaPlus -- From Expersoft.
• Datamapper (Bobby Woolf) -- Maps Java Objects to Files
• Data Tier Modeler (DTM) for .Net -- Evaluant
• DBGen
• DeKlarit -- .NET IDE and Persistence Framework
• Demokritos (XML database engine)
• Dynamo Repository API (Art Technology Group
• Entity Bean Primary Key Generator (Floyd Marinescu)
• EPIC Database Access Builder -- From Novera.
• Framework for Object Relational Mapping (FORM) -- From ChiMu Corporation
• Frontier's ePersistJ and persistJ -- An EJB persistence container and a persistence framework
• Genome -- OR Mapping framework for .Net
• Gentle.NET
• InfraSet -- From Method Bay
• In/Sight EJB Reporting Tool -- Sight Software
• Jasmin -- An objectbase from Computer Associates.
• Javlin EJB Data Server -- Excelon
• J-Database Exchange (JDX) -- From Software Tree
• Java Object Persistence (JOP)
• LPC Consulting -- Two of their leading products include: JdbcStore (a Java to Relational persistence framework) and ODBTalk (a Smalltalk interface to ODBC-compliant RDBMSs).
• NJDX -- The KISS OR Mapper for .Net -- From Software Tree
• ObjectSpark
• Orbix -- From Iona.
• Persistence.com
• Persistence Builder -- IBM VAJava mapping tool for EJB
• Poet SQL Object Factory
• Pragmatier Data Tier Builder -- For Visual Basic
• Protoview (access DBs directly with ActiveX and JavaBean components)
• Redhat WAF Persistence
• Relational Object Framework (ROF)-- Watershed
• Spider Object Database for Delphi
• Tangram (PERL persistence layer)
• TopLink -- A persistence layer from The Object People, now owned by Oracle.
• Versant -- Object database, implementation of Java Data Object (JDO) architecture
• VisiBroker -- From Visigenic.
• Voyager -- From ObjectSpace.
• XML Database Products - Ronald Bourret

Persistence-Related Links and Papers:

• Common Warehouse Metamodel Forum
• CORBA Object Transaction Service (OTS) 
• Database Glossary -- About.com
• Database refactoring -- The Process of Database Refactoring
• Database refactoring -- Catalog of Database Refactoring
• Earthweb's Java & Databases Discussion Group
• Java Data Object (JDO) Specification
• Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) Specification
• The KISS Principles for O/R Mapping Products (Damodar Periwal)
• Oracle's Industry Standards Page
• Sybase -- They have some interesting white papers
• Transaction Processing Links
• X/Open Transaction Process Titles

Copyright © 1997-2007 Scott W. Ambler Last updated: May 4, 2007 ||  Agile Data (AD)  |  Agile Modeling (AM)  |  Agile Unified Process (AUP)  |  Enterprise Unified Process (EUP)  ||