Following is the proposal that Team iBATIS would like to submit to the Incubator PMC
for consideration. This is a current copy of the proposal we drafted on the Wiki. We
are submitting it to the list so that it is archived as part of the iBATIS application
to Apache.
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Created 10 August 2004. Last edited 17 August 2004.
Proposal for iBATIS Data Mapper Project
(0) rationale
A Data Mapper is "A layer of Mappers that moves data between objects and a
database while keeping them independent of each other and the mapper itself" [Patterns
of Enterprise Application Architecture]. Many Data Mapper frameworks are
object/relational mapping (ORM) tools that generate SQL statements and support a
subset of the possible object/relational mappings. Unlike ORM tools, iBATIS supports
any conceivable mapping between runtime objects and a persistent store. Rather than
generate SQL statements, iBATIS helps developers and database administrators manage
SQL as an external resource.
The SQL statements used by an application are defined through a set of XML
documents, as are the mappings. Literal and dynamic SQL statements are supported. When
stored procedures are preferred, iBATIS provides a consistent interface for accessing
either procedures or statements, as needed. Of course, value-added services such as
caching, lazy loading, and transactions are supported by iBATIS and defined through
the XML configuration.
iBATIS serves the needs of developers who need an advanced Data Mapping layer,
like Apache OJB or Hibernate, but find it difficult to express their object/relational
mappings with an ORM tool. The tradeoff is that iBATIS does not generate SQL, but many
developers find this consequence to be an advantage rather than a drawback.
Teams worldwide have been using iBATIS is production for nearly two years. The
approach continues to gain popularity and has been implemented for the two most
popular enterprise software platforms (J2EE and .Net).
(0.1) criteria
Meritocracy:
The iBATIS project started as the work of a sole developer, Clinton Begin. As
the community and codebase grew, Clinton recruited other members of the iBATIS
community to work with him on the project, based on their prior contributions and
interest. This group became the team that is now making this application. Current
development is consensus-based. Discussions regarding development take place on an
open list, where the entire community can participate. Although there are two
implementations, there is only one iBATIS team, and all developers have commit rights
to both codebases.
Community:
iBATIS enjoys a vibrant community of users. Since August 2002, almost 3000
support messages have been posted to the user and development lists. The 1.3.1 release
of the Java implementation (January 2004) has had over 4000 downloads. In the first
week of its release, the 2.0 release (June 2004) saw over 800 downloads.
The iBATIS 80 page developer guide was even translated to Chinese by one kind
contributor. Translations into other languages are being planned.
The iBATIS .NET community is younger, but already show signs of growth. One user
has already contributed an example application based on the iBATIS JPetStore. Other
users have demonstrated an interest in downloading and improving the C# source code.
The team is working on create a joint set of documentation that the implementations
can share, along with a common specification that implementations can observe.
Core Developers:
The core iBATIS development team is created from the most committed users from
the community and industry experts. The core developers include the original creator
of iBATIS and an Apache Software Foundation member as well.
Alignment:
iBATIS aligns well with existing Apache projects including Jakarta Commons and
Struts. Many Struts users find a natural synergy between the frameworks because of the
similarities in their principles and values.
(0.2) warning signs
Orphaned products:
The existing iBATIS framework is growing rapidly and recently released version
2.0. At the same time, nearly half of the iBATIS committers were focused on developing
iBATIS.Net to bring the benefits of this paradigm to C# developers.
Inexperience with open source:
All of the iBATIS developers are familiar with open source. The iBATIS
SourceForge project has been in existence for nearly two years. The second major
version of the original Java implementation has just been released, along with the
first major version of the .NET implementation.
iBATIS team members are active in other open source projects, including the
Jakarta Commons and Apache Struts communities.
Homogenous developers:
Two of the developers share a common employer, but are not working on the
project as salaried employees. The other developers are scattered around the globe, in
Canada, the US, and France. The developers communicate by email.
Reliance on salaried developers:
Developers work on a volunteer basis. The project does not rely on salaried
developers.
No ties to other Apache products:
Some people have described iBATIS as "Struts for the Persistence Layer". Many of
the dynamic SQL tags were influenced by the Struts JSP tag library. iBATIS for Java
makes use of a number of Jakarta Commons components. iBATIS for .NET uses Apache
Logging. There is a great deal of potential for integration with other Apache projects.
A fascination with the Apache brand:
iBATIS shares a common license and culture with Apache products. We especially
share the goal to create a product that outlives its original creators. We are not
making this application to acquire the Apache brand, but to strengthen our
technological and cultural ties. iBATIS recently expanded from a sole developer to a
team of developers, and we want to continue and solidify our expansion by joining the
ASF.
(0.3) subproject or top-level project
The iBATIS scope is as broad as products like Ant, Struts, and Maven. iBATIS is
not just a Data Mapper framework, there is also a second Data Access Object framework,
as well as an implementation of the infamous Petstore application. All implemented for
both Java and .NET. Other subproject to create and maintain GUI tools and a common
specification are planned, and PHP implementation may also follow.
The iBATIS team believes that all active committers should be PMC members. As
iBATIS continues to grow, we expect the development/management team to also grow.
While the iBATIS products would fit under the broad scope of the db.apache.org
project, the iBATIS developers would not be comfortable overseeing the db.apache.org
products. We simply do not have enough experience with the other products to provide
PMC-grade oversight.
Accordingly, our preference would be to apply as an Apache top-level project.
(1) scope of the subproject
Two main subprojects will be responsible for creating and maintaining the C# and
Java implementations of iBATIS Data Mapper and iBATIS Data Access Objects. A third
subproject, now in the planning stage, will provide a common specification for the
implementations.
(1.1) interaction with other packages
iBATIS has very few dependencies. With the exception of commons-logging, all
dependencies are optional and serve to enable features of the framework.
The following are optional Apache Software Foundation project dependencies:
* commons-collections
* commons-pool
* commons-dbcp
* log4j
* xalan
* xerces
The following are optional 3rd party dependencies, which do not need to be present to
compile or run our software:
* CGLIB - http://cglib.sourceforge.net/ (Apache Software License, Version 1.1)
* OSCache - http://www.opensymphony.com/oscache/ (OpenSymphony License)
(2) identify the initial source from which the subproject is to be populated
* http://sourceforge.net/projects/ibatisdb
* http://sourceforge.net/projects/ibatisnet
o https://wush.net/websvn/ibatisnet1/listing.php (login as guest)
The code (both Java and C#) is already licensed under the Apache License 2.0.
(2.1) identify the base name for the package
* org.apache.ibatis (Java)
* IBatisNet (C#)
(2.2) identify the coding conventions for this package
The Java code mostly follows a Sun's standard coding conventions, including the
following characteristics:
* No newlines before braces
* Indentation of two blank spaces (not tabs)
* No underscores ("_") on private members
* No "I" prefix on interfaces
The .Net implementation follows the coding standards provided by the Visual Studio.NET
IDE and JetBrain Resharper plugin.
(3) identify the ASF resources to be created
(3.1) mailing list(s)
* ibatis-ppmc (with moderated subscriptions)
* ibatis-svn
* ibatis-dev
* ibatis-user-java
* ibatis-user-cs
(3.2) subversion repositories
* incubator-ibatis
(3.3) jira
* ibatis-java
* ibatis-cs
(4) identify the initial set of committers
* Gilles Bayon
* Clinton Begin (**)
* Ka-Wai Chan
* Brandon Goodin (*)
* Ted Husted (**)
* Larry Meadors (**)
(5) identify Apache sponsoring individual
Ted Husted, Champion and Mentor for the project, (as defined in
http://incubator.apache.org/incubation/Roles_and_Responsibilities.html)
(*) CLA filed. (**) CLA acknowledged.
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