Versant Corporation has announced the availability of version 0.9 of its Versant Java Persistence API (JPA), allowing organizations to leverage the benefits of an enterprise-grade NoSQL solution via the Java industry-standard database programming interface. By using the Versant JPA to lower the barriers to NoSQL adoption, Versant says, enterprises can tackle volume, variety, and velocity challenges presented by big data management, and derive value from gaining more insights into information models faster and more easily. Versant JPA version 0.9 represents the first feature complete version of the API binding since the release of a Technology Preview in December 2011.
However, while it is well accepted now that NoSQL technologies can bring capabilities to an organization when it comes to scale out, there are still challenges to adopting these technologies both in terms of cost - because most organizations do not have staff on hand that are already familiar with them - and in terms of the risk - in committing resources to NoSQL technologies that may not turn out to be the right approach for the organization, Robert Greene, vice president of technology development at Versant, tells 5 Minute Briefing. In addition, notes Greene, one of the things that has limited people on the NoSQL side is their ability to design richly linked information models or to develop applications that need a linked data model. The new JPA takes that first generation of NoSQ and "really brings it to a place where enterprise developers can get some real value."
By embracing the standard programmatic JPA approach and providing vendor extensions to support Versant's NoSQL's scale-out topology, Versant JPA aims to eliminate training costs, enabling enterprise-class developers to utilize NoSQL with existing application development practices. According to the company, the Versant JPA connects directly to Versant's NoSQL database, supporting critical needs for information model richness, system reliability, and data variety, in addition to simple scale-out.
Versant JPA includes many key JPA-specific functions, including JSE support, annotations, an entity manager API, support for JPQL, and entity lifecycle callbacks. In addition to the JPA industry standard, the product also includes a generic API, which creates an easy extension point for developers to use other virtual machine (VM)-based languages, such as Scala and JRuby, to leverage Versant's NoSQL database, and further broadens Versant JPA's usefulness.
The new version also features key Versant technology-specific extensions, such as supporting Eclipse plugins, index definitions, distributed database support, cursor query, and generic API extensions. In addition, the full Versant JPA version 0.9 software development kit is bundled with extensive programming examples, tutorials, and comprehensive documentation.
For more information on Versant JPA version 0.9, visit the Versant JPA product page. To read how Versant technology users have already been successful in using the Versant JPA technical preview API, visit the Versant Developer Community JPA section at http://community.versant.com/Forums/tabid/98/aff/56/Default.aspx.