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XML Programming Contest
The core of The XML Challenge, this contest gives you a chance to build an application that uses IBM’s breakthrough DB2 9 technology and join the XML revolution.
Preregister to get started. Develop your application. Then submit it for judging.
Strut your stuff: Build an XML application
Use DB2 Express-C V9.1 or 9.5
Share it: Your project must be available as an open-source project on a public web site.
Cite it: You can share code if you mention it - and no more than 30%.
Entry Guidelines
DB2 9 is the one-of-a-kind data server that stores both relational and XML data side by side. The XML data is stored in its native form—it’s stored as XML instead of being shredded up into relational tables. Storing XML this way makes it easier and faster to access and modify. Because it’s stored in its native XML format, IBM calls it pureXML.
There are many ways to build an application for this contest. You can use the pureXML capabilities of DB2. You can write an application that uses XQuery, possibly in addition to SQL, as part of its data processing operations. You can write an application that uses other XML technology with DB2 as your data store. As long as there is a strong XML (or pureXML) component to your solution, you have a valid entry. If in doubt, be sure to e-mail our judges to find out if your application qualifies.
HOW TO ENTER
1. Register for The XML Challenge and take the Quick Quiz.
2. Entry to this category may be closed prior to the final submission deadline; therefore contestants interested in participating in this category should preregister immediately. Preregistration requires only your user name and a brief description of your XML application idea.
3. Develop a solution that can be categorized as one of the following:
- Best pureXML Data Analytics Solution: Applications related to analyzing large amounts of data in a data warehouse, for instance, or in business intelligence and search
- Best pureXML SOA Application: Applications that accelerate information in a Service Oriented Architecture
- Best pureXML Social Application: Collaborative applications or applications that use mashups and other Web 2.0 technology
- Best pureXML ACID Factory: Applications that use pureXML in transaction processing
- Best pureXML Industry or Standards Solution: Applications that pertain to a specific industry solution or to a specific industry standard
4. Submit an entry that is published as an open-source project and is free of any copyright licenses.
HOW TO WIN
Here’s a hint: Make sure your supporting documentation really impresses the judges. Don’t hold back on the marketing of your application. Explain to the judges how to install, run and evaluate your application. In addition, point out how your solution specifically takes advantage of pureXML or other XML technologies.
The original application can be open-source, freeware/shareware or proprietary/commercial. However, the final solution submitted by the contestants needs to be published as an open-source project.
Solutions will be evaluated based on the following five criteria:
| Utility | How useful is your application to solve real problems? | 20% |
| Reusability | Can your application or parts of it be reusable to solve other problems? | 20% |
| Consumability | How easily do others understand your application? How well is it documented and presented? | 20% |
| Security | Is your application secure? Can others hack into your system due to weaknesses in your application design? Is it robust? | 20% |
| Technical Innovation | How creative is your solution? How unique is it? | 20% |
Technical Articles
- Program with XML for DB2, Part 1: Understand the XML data model
- Program with XML for DB2, Part 2: Leverage database support for XML in your application architecture
- Program with XML for DB2, Part 3: Program with XML in the client
- Program with XML for DB2, Part 4: Integrate data from different data sources in your Web-based DB2 application
- Best Practices: Managing XML Data
- Sample Code for Best Practices
- Best practices for DB2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows
