Best Tech Tutorials: 2011

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Data Mapping Tutorials and Guides for XML and Relational Databases

Data mapping is sometimes an inevitable task for developers, although it can be difficult to know where to start. Application and project changes can lead to the decision to shift data models and systems, such as changing from XML to other database platforms. If you've ever been faced with the task of transferring data between XML and database systems such as MySQL, you'll know the sheer number of decisions that sometimes need to be made.

Of course there are database systems in which XML data can be modelled natively, however the trickier case is where a different model is going to be used, for example relational. This kind of XML database mapping initially involves creating a relational database design that effectively models the same set of data that the original XML was structured for. This needs to include all of the same information as well as reflecting the relationships between data items, and as with so many design tasks, there is never only one right answer.

There are lots of software and Web application tools that automate the process of importing XML data into a database. It's really up to developers to decide whether this is going to be appropriate or effective in any particular project. The focus of the resources listed here is more on manually creating a relational model designed to accommodate data that is already stored in XML, with the XML model perhaps represented using an XSD (XML Schema Definition).

Here are some useful resources I came across reading about the topic:

O'Reilly XML.com - Mapping DTDs to Databases
I've found this an excellent site generally for anything to do with XML. This section runs through the key principles and considerations in mapping from an XML structure such as one represented in a DTD, to an object relational system.

W3C - XML Database Mapping
This may be a pretty old document but it makes an interesting read, exploring some of the major concepts in translating data between XML and database structures.

XML and Databases - Ronald Bourret
This is one of the best resources I've found on this topic. It's a very thorough guide to just about every imaginable angle on XML and databases, including both table based and object relational mapping.

O'Reilly XML.com - Storing XML in Relational Databases
Another one from the O'Reilly XML.com site, this piece discusses various approaches taken by major applications and vendors including Oracle, Microsoft, IBM and Sybase.

MySQL Developer Zone - Using XML in MySQL 5.1 and 6.0
Naturally this is specific to MySQL, so if that's the platform you happen to be targeting there's some useful info in here. Topics include XPath, importing and exporting XML data.

Oracle XML DB Developer's Guide - XML Schema Storage and Query: Basic
This contains Oracle specific info but there is also some interesting general material on data mapping, including mapping data types from XML Schema to database and SQL types.

International DB2 User Group (IDUG) - Converting XML to Relational Data
A thorough and balanced explanation of XML to relational data conversion, with a particular focus on shredding, including a well reasoned weighing up of when it is and isn't likely to be suitable.

IBM DeveloperWorks - XML Matters: Putting XML in context with hierarchical, relational, and object-oriented models
The DeveloperWorks site is always a good resource for very specific technical subjects like this. This article takes a high-level, abstract but still accessible view, discussing the conceptual aspects of each model with relation to importing XML data.

Lorentz Center - Structured Mapping of XMLType
Again, this is specific to Oracle and other technologies, but there is a fair amount of generally useful info within it. Particularly helpful sections cover XML Schema and various topics on mapping to SQL.

Kitebird - Using XML with MySQL
This is focused on MySQL but again covers some of the central issues in mapping between XML and any database system. The subjects are covered from a few different angles here, including importing XML into MySQL using different techniques.

Finally here are a couple of mine:
Using XML Schemas (XSDs) to Create Database Tables
XML Database Mapping Using XSD (XML Schema)

So that's it, this is one topic I must admit I've found it difficult to discover useful material on. I don't personally have much experience in using any of the software and application tools for this type of activity, but I suspect a manual redesign will probably always be the most successful approach in switching from XML to relational database systems.

Monday 2 May 2011

Android User and Developer Guides

Finding guides to using and developing Android applications is not particularly easy. The number of useful sites and blogs is growing, but still seems pretty small. As a casual Android developer I recently started a blog about Android development topics because I was surprised by the lack of resources available apart from the official Google guide. However, I've also been surprised by the relatively small amount of information for Android users (as opposed to developers).

Anyway, here are some of the more useful sites I've found:

Android - The Developers Guide
As mentioned above, the official guide is by far the best source for Android development information, including tutorials, the official API for the Java Android resources and all sorts of recommendations.

Android Developers Blog
This is another official source from Google, but I've found it often contains info I had been struggling to find on the official guide. It's also a bit more informal as it's article based.

AndroidGuys
AndroidGuys is a great source for information about Android devices, apps, news and user guides. There's a healthy portion of comment in it too so it's a readable resource to have a regular look at.

TalkAndroid
TalkAndroid is an excellent source for real Android geekery. A news-based site, this is a great place to find info about upcoming releases, devices and apps.

anddev.org
Anddev.org has proven to be one of the most useful developer resources I've come across so far. It's a community site so the information is forum-based.

Android Tapp
Android Tapp is one of the many Android app review sites, with a lot of detailed information about the featured applications.

Android and Me
Android and Me is another fantastic source for news about all things Android. Again, this is more of an Android geek resource than a casual user one.

Android Central
Android Central is one of the few sites I've found that manages to strike a good balance, catering equally well to casual and technical Android fans. This site contains a lot of different types of Android information, including apps, tips, news and tutorials.

You can of course find Android info on sites that are not focused exclusively on Android. This information tends to be a bit more arbitrary, so you're more likely to come across it by Googling what you're looking for. However, there is decent Android info on both Smashing Magazine and Mobiletuts+ among others.

Finally, here are some of my own:

Monday 18 April 2011

XBMC Tutorials, Tips and Guides

I was recently researching the open source media player XBMC for a tutorial. Here are some useful resources I came across:

XBMC Online Manual
It might seem obvious but by far the best source for XBMC info is the official wiki guide, here are some of the main areas of it for tutorials and tips:

Maximum PC - 12 Essential Tips to Using XBMC as the Perfect Media Hub
This article starts with a basic installation guide but covers a wide variety of additional XBMC topics too.

MediaSmartServer.net - Guide: Getting Started With XBMC
A thorough starter guide with lots of screenshots and detail.

Kludge-o-matic - XBMC
This is a blog, but has a good range of useful XBMC tips you might not come across elsewhere.

Lifehacker - XBMC
Lifehacker has loads of content on XBMC, just do a search for it on-site...

Long Story Short - The Complete XBMC Tutorial Series
Another blog, this links to some really useful video tutorials for using XBMC.

YouTube
There are a surprising number of XBMC tutorials and guides on YouTube, here are a few that stood out to me:

See also:
Using XML to Control LCD Output in XBMC
Customising LCD Output in XBMC

That's it at the moment, if I discover any more useful material online about XBMC I'll add it to the list. In the meantime feel free to add your own in the comments.

Tuesday 12 April 2011

Hello

Just a short introduction to this blog. I write technical and educational material which is published on the Web. When I'm researching computing topics I'm regularly pleasantly surprised by the quality of some of what I come across, and frustrated by the fact that finding it is often a laborious process.

With this blog, I basically plan to highlight some of what I've found in my own research, hopefully signposting some of the better content and maybe saving a little time for anyone else trying to find what I was trying to find..!

The topics I plan to cover will include tutorials on Web development, software development, programming, technical concepts and principles on subjects such as the Internet and computing in general.