XML Holland

XMLHolland Olympics Code Challenge 2012

Are you able to build an Olympics search application using XML standards like XQuery and RDF/XML?

What is the challenge?

Develop a Semantic search application against which random search queries about the London 2012 Olympics can be executed. It must be implemented in principal with XML(-related) standards like XQuery, XForms, XSLT, XPath (or a mix of them).

Part of the challenge is finding appropriate data. Only Open data encoded in RDF/XML (OWL/Topic Maps) or any other XML-encoding (at time of entering the system) is allowed. The total size of the data is limited to 10 Gb at maximum, measured in its original uncompressed XML format.

The jury will judge and score all submissions, and select a top 3 out of them. These contestants will be given the opportunity to enter a live ‘battle’ at the XML Amsterdam 2012 conference. The host will pose a number of questions which all participants of the battle will try to answer as fast as possible. The person that gives most first answers, wins not only the battle, but also the challenge.

Using existing query languages (like SPARQL) is preferred, but not required.

What can I win?

The top 3 contestants will be granted free access to the XML Amsterdam 2012 conference, which takes place at September 19th, 2012.

The winner of the battle will get rewarded additionally:

·           Free entrance to a leading International XML Conference

·           A beautiful certificate

·           The honorable title of “XML Developer 2012”

What do the judges expect?

W3C claims that “XQuery is a standardized language for combining documents, databases, Web pages and almost anything else”, and “XQuery is replacing proprietary middleware languages and Web Application development languages”. (http://www.w3.org/XML/Query/)

Given the fact XQuery itself originates from query languages like Quilt and SQL, it makes sense to apply it to large volumes of content. There are also plenty extensions to extend its functionality with for instance full-text search capabilities.

This is your opportunity to show us how well one can build a heavy search application with amongst others XQuery.

Using other programming languages besides XQuery is allowed,. The goal is a solution based entirely on open standards.

We will judge the entries on the application of the standards, the code and performance. The application should provide an intuitive search interface, that helps to find the answers as quickly as possible. The looks of the interface will count for bonus points.The data that is being used will be validated for its size limits, and for being Open Data. Care for getting the application up and running from scratch will give bonus points too.

 What should I deliver?

Turn in your solution consisting of the source code, (links to) the data, and instructions that will enable the judges to using your program. Binary data (image, video) sound alongside XML/RDF (OWL/Topic Maps) is allowed.

Entrants will receive a more detailed briefing after they registered for the code challenge completion.

When should I deliver?

Register yourself at & send in submissions to voorzitter@xmlholland.nl September 1st, 2012

Who are the judges?

The panel consists of experts with a proven track record in the open standards community. For
XMLHolland Code Challenge 2012, the following people will be your judges:

·           Michael Kay, the editor of the W3C XSLT specification, and is a member of the XQuery and XML Schema Working Groups. He is the developer of the Saxon XSLT, XQuery, and XML Schema processor.

·           Geert Josten, senior developer at Dayon, last year’s winner of the Code Challenge

·           Irsan Widarto, co-founder and CTO of X-Hive, now Director of XML Engineering at EMC

·           Theun Fleer, developer at Incentro

·           …