ActiveRDF: object-oriented semantic web programming

ABSTRACT

Object-oriented programming is the current mainstream programming paradigm but existing RDF APIs are mostly triple-oriented. Traditional techniques for bridging a similar gap between relational databases and object-oriented programs cannot be applied directly given the different nature of Semantic Web data, for example in the semantics of class membership, inheritance relations, and object conformance to schemas.

We present ActiveRDF, an object-oriented API for managing RDF data that offers full manipulation and querying of RDF data, does not rely on a schema and fully conforms to RDF(S) semantics. ActiveRDF can be used with different RDF data stores: adapters have been implemented to generic SPARQL endpoints, Sesame, Jena, Redland and YARS and new adapters can be added easily. In addition, integration with the popular Ruby on Rails framework enables rapid development of Semantic Web applications.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: Object-oriented design methods

General Terms:
Design, Languages

Keywords:
RDF(S), object-oriented programming, ruby on rails, scripting languages, semantic web