May 14 2013
Double Applause for SlashDB at NYETM
The video of our presentation at the last NY Enterprise Technology has been published on YouTube.
SlashDB is presented in context of systems of engagement. We discuss how to construct a uniform data architecture spanning enterprise and web.
Enterprise CIOs employ /db’s resource-oriented architecture to overcome data silos and shorten time to market for new business processes. Mobile enterprise application developers save time with /db used as gateway to legacy databases and can focus on engaging and value-adding business features.
May 7 2013
TechCrunch Mentions SlashDB in a Piece on Speeding Up Data
“Speed” and “data” are loaded terms that can be hard to cover in one article. TechCrunch has recently published an interesting compilation of perspectives from several leading technology firms that operate in this space.
Our founder and chief architect of SlashDB, Victor Olex was quoted about challenges with integrating traditional databases and web-scale information systems.
Here’s the link to the article:
http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/05/6-experts-on-speeding-up-data/
Enjoy.
Technocrati code 8VT4WUYJAVCM.
Apr 15 2013
SlashDB Recognized a Business App of the Month by NYETM
We are very pleased to announce that SlashDB has been recognized the Business App of The Month by New York Enterprise Tech Meetup and will be demonstrated at the event tomorrow.
SlashDB seamlessly connects databases to authorized web, mobile and enterprise applications so that database content can be accessed in a uniform way from just about anywhere. The product has applications in master data management, data virtualization, data publishing APIs and mobile enterprise apps among others.
The New York Enterprise Tech Meetup is a monthly forum where innovation-seeking executives and venture investors meet cutting edge technology firms to freely network and learn from each other. Every month a select group of enterprise technology firms is asked to present at the event.
Mar 28 2013
SlashDB Among Tech Partners to the Fintech Hackathon
Come hack with us April 6-7, 2013 at the Fintech Hackathon in NYC. Win $10,000 + exposure to thought leaders in the industry.
SlashDB is pleased to be a technology partner to the event among esteemed financial and web technology businesses such as: 10gen, Bloomberg, Caplin, CardFlight, Disqus, Dwolla, Estimize, Kaazing, Oanda, OpenFin, OpenGamma, StockTwits, Tradable, Xignite and Zipmark. Special thanks to Nick Gavronsky from OpenFin for inviting us to participate.
Although SlashDB has grown to become an industry agnostic database-to-web “middleware” the idea for it was actually conceived out of problems with data management observed in large financial institutions.
As you may know, SlashDB can create a mesh of all your database resources accessible in the same way, by referencing URLs. We call that a Resource Oriented Architecture (ROA). With the ROA approach there is far less of a need to use ETL processes and data warehouses. Instead of copying data, use a reference to data.
Data transparency and a capability for instant error correction naturally stem from this approach. Also, the fact you can use the same link to power an in-house trade processing service or a risk dashboard on a mobile device or even desk quant’s Excel workbook is for some just too good to be true. Except it is true and will become a norm.
SlashDB instance running on Amazon Elastic Cloud will be made available to the hackathon participants and will support any Amazon RDS databases (SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle) as well as SQLite files. If you have any questions for us ahead of the event, please send them to finhack @ slashdb.com.
We hope to see you there! Don’t delay, register now.
Mar 25 2013
SlashDB ver. 0.7 Released, Improved UX and Admin Functions
SlashDB version 0.7 has just come out. This time, improvements focus on three things: user experience, robust system administrator functionality and enhanced authorization mechanisms. Try the new SlashDB and you will appreciate the benefits of data accessibility from anywhere.
Here’s what’s new in 0.7:
For data scientists, business analysts
SlashDB has this dual personality. It is the API developer’s best tool to incorporate databases into his/her web or mobile apps but the equally important aspect of the system addresses the needs of data scientists, business analysts and rapid application developers. Using SlashDB they get straightforward access to relevant data in its unobstructed form. Thanks to our latest GUI enhancements the web interface is now even more user friendly. New, responsive design allows for comfortable browsing through data on mobile devices while automatically generated, drill-down, filtering and sorting links help casual user discover the data and system’s functionality on the fly. As before you can use your favorite data analysis tools such as Excel, Matlab, SAS, R etc. to work with live data referenced by /db URLs.
For system administrators
Previously most settings would require editing configuration files on the server. We still have that option but since version 0.7 nearly all settings can be made in the web GUI or via a REST API. New authorization schemes now allow even greater flexibility in creating user segments with distinct permissions to data and system functions. Special users “admin” and “public” have been added. The former has full permissions to all system functions. The latter can be configured to offer limited access without requiring a login.
For CTO/CIO and software architects
Using SlashDB as a mobile enterprise application backend or to build an API is a sensible choice. Not only can you instantly leverage prior investments in databases but also remain in full control of your solution. That is because unlike SaaS offerings SlashDB can work in your data center or in your private cloud. See also this blog post.
User Experience in ver. 0.7
Mar 14 2013
Database Gateway for Mobile and Web Apps
Many organizations are now building dedicated mobile solutions and most of them will face a dilemma of how to access internal databases on those devices. Direct connection is not an option due to firewalls and neither is VPN because phones can go out of network coverage at any moment. Some fall back on periodic synchronization when the device is back in office but that is like going back 20 years to the old PDA days. In order to access the data in real time a web service needs to be developed. That has proven to be neither easy nor cheap nor fast to accomplish.
It all changes with SlashDB.
Once installed next to a web server, SlashDB connects internal databases to authorized mobile and web applications. Technically speaking, it automatically constructs a REST/HTTP web service, which makes database content accessible by URLs for reading and writing, under compatible data formats.
Using SlashDB, enterprises can create meaningful systems of engagements themselves or in partnerships with clients or 3rd party developers.
SlashDB as a Data Gateway (click to enlarge)
The benefits of HTTP APIs go beyond just modernizing the technology infrastructure and translate to competitive advantage for one’s business.
For example, an executive could negotiate a better deal by having an up to date inventory data on hand. The inventory itself could be accurately calculated because purchase orders were captured on the fly from distributor’s outside salesperson’s device into company’s database.
Systems or engagement are about interaction, in the moment updates and sharing but they make business sense only if they can work with and leverage prior investments made into the systems of record. SlashDB makes the connection.
Feb 20 2013
SlashDB at the API Strategy & Practice Conference
SlashDB will be used to illustrate the talk on enterprise systems of engagement. You can catch our talk on Friday, Feb. 22nd, between 1:35pm-3pm, 429 Stage, API Strategy & Practice Conference, Westin Grand Central, New York, NY.
“Data API as a Foundation for Systems of Engagement”
Enterprise evolution to systems of engagement will only succeed if it can leverage and add value to existing systems of record. Relational databases are predominantly used for that but their content can be rather difficult to engage with. This holds true not only for the non-technical staff but increasingly also for the new breed of software developers, who are accustomed to the pragmatism of web APIs.
We are introducing the idea of Resource Oriented Architecture as a foundation for building enterprise systems of engagement. ROA is a data abstraction layer (API), which uses URLs as references to the data at source (database). We will show a functioning implementation of ROA in SlashDB and discuss both internal and external applications for this approach in a modern enterprise.
Jan 19 2013
Avoid VPN for Database Applications
That something can be done it doesn’t mean you should do it. Sharing a database server over VPN using public Internet is ripe with problems.
SQL database servers are designed for fast and reliable local area networks where constant connection between client and server can be maintained. VPN tunnels often shut down when there is no traffic, which can break existing connections. Further, the performance leaves a lot to be desired due to encryption and other overheads. People complain – a Google search for “database over VPN problem” yields almost 8.5 million references.
When database content needs to be accessed by remote clients over the Internet, an HTTP(S) web service is most likely the best solution. HTTP was designed for wide area networks and automatically comes with benefits of efficient caching, easy content sharing and is accessible from virtually all programming environments.
Jan 5 2013
Mobile App in a few clicks using SlashDB and KendoUI
As a quick experiment this afternoon, we clicked our way through a tutorial to KendoUI and modified it slightly to show data from the SlashDB demo instance. As you can see in the picture a simulated iOS app is displaying data from a SlashDB URL.
Data from SlashDB shown in KendoUI app.
There are two code parts that make up the app.
1. Declarative HTML5 application layout
<!--Add Mobile App HTML --></pre> <div data-role="view"> <div data-role="header"> <div data-role="navbar">Northwind Customers</div> </div> </div> <pre>
2. JavaScript initialization and data fetch code
//Mobile App Initialization Code
var ds = new kendo.data.DataSource({
transport: {
read: {
url: "http://demo.slashdb.com/db/Northwind/Customer/CompanyName.json?limit=41",
dataType: "json"
}
},
});
ds.read();
window.ds = ds;
var app = new kendo.mobile.Application(document.body);
Dec 26 2012
SlashDB Applauded at PyData Conference
SlashDB lightning talk at the PyData conference was received with a round of applause. Please contact us to discuss /db features in context of your work or to schedule a dedicated presentation.
Nov 23 2012
Prospective Clients and Curious Investors Visit our Booth at the NY Business Expo
We were overwhelmed by the interest we received at the New York Business Expo last week. Assetcloud and /db drew prospects from businesses as diverse as:
- Financial Services
- Pharmaceutical and Healthcare
- Eneregy
- Web Development
- Mobile Applications Development
- Technology Consulting
- Cloud Infrastructure and Service Providers
Besides prospective clients we were approached by representatives of venture capital funds, angel investors, journalists and marketing agencies.
We would like to thank everyone for their support and appreciation for our products.
Nov 6 2012
Turn any Database into an Online Resource with Assetcloud Powered by /db
The news is out. November, 14-15 we will be exhibiting /db at the NY Business Expo, booth #66 at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. Come join us, see /db in action.
Turn Any Database into an Online Resource with VT Enterprise Assetcloud Powered By /db
Financial industry first to adopt Assetcloud powered by /db to cope with data silos, become cloud-ready. Automatically generated REST API streamlines enterprise data management and paves the way for mobile enterprise applications.
Jersey City, NJ (PRWEB) November 06, 2012
VT Enterprise announces the immediate availability of Assetcloud powered by /db, a solution to the growing data access problem in financial industry. As institutions become increasingly information-driven, databases play a crucial role in driving critical business processes. However, organizations often encounter multiple databases in different departments that are hard to access. Assetcloud powered by /db solves this data management problem by instantly turning any group of databases into a “cloud” of online data resources that are easily searchable and accessible by authorized users and applications. [Read more]
Oct 26 2012
Lighting talk at PyData tomorrow. See /db ver. 0.6 in action.
Tomorrow we are giving a lightning talk at the PyData conference. We will speak about what /db is, why we designed it as a REST API and will show a demo of the latest version of our product.
Time permitting we will cover:
- Benefits of Resource Oriented Architecture in data integration
- Use as a gateway to database behind corporate firewalls such as for mobile and web applications
- Invitation to Hackathon
Looks like we are first in line for the talks so please make sure to be there before 6pm.
10/26/2012 6pm
Lighthouse International
111 East 59th Street (Between Lexington & Park Avenues)
New York, NY 10022
Oct 24 2012
Let’s meet at the NYC Data Week!
The New York City Data Week is in full swing and we are representing!
Selected events in which we will be participating:
10/24/2012 (tonight) Data Innovation in Finance panel and the Python Meetup
10/25/2012 (Thursday) Data Innovation Across the City Panel
10/26 – 10/27 PyData conference (lightning talk, exact schedule to follow)
10/28/2012 (Sunday) PyData Hackathon - last but definitely not the least, /db will be hacked with at the PyData Hackathon on Friday, Oct. 26th. Our CEO and one of the developers will be on-hand with advice and support.
Twit at @agilevic if you are around the same events and would like to meet up.
Oct 3 2012
“Big Data. Social Media.” Was a Good Event
The Data Warehousing Institute and Information Builders invited us to participate in their half-day conference “Big Data. Social Media.“. The event took place today in New York at the Information Builders headquarters. We enjoyed listening to diverse group of speakers including KPMG Business Intelligence Practice Director Glenn Peipert, startup Bundle.com Chief Data Scientist Alex Hasha and Information Builder’s own Sr. Systems Engineer Dan Grady. Some takeaway points for us were:
- KPMG has created a comprehensive project roadmap for Big Data projects
- Open source vendors are recognized by enterprise clients as fast-moving
- Big Data is not useful until refined
- Batching by geographies and text clustering are techniques to reduce problem scale
- Data has to be tamed for fast iterative experimentation
- Linking data from different domains such as social networks, sales, commisions etc. can be a challenge
- (no doubt /db can help here by making databases appear as web services)
Sep 12 2012
See you at the NJ Spark Summit 2012
We will be participating in the NJ Spark Summit conference tomorrow in Hoboken, NJ. The agenda looks very interesting and we are hoping for good networking in between the talks.
Sep 10 2012
Resource Oriented Architecture Among Solutions to Data Silos
Inside Reference Data magazine in article “Transparent Demands” by Michael Shashoua refers to our opinion on using Resource Oriented Architecture to combat data silos and achieve greater data transparency. Subscription is required to read but free trial is available or see the snippet below.
Dismantling Data Silos
Services such as Bloomberg’s BVAL, launched about two years ago, and others emulating BVAL’s capabilities are proving beneficial to buy-side firms to save time, meet regulatory requirements for pricing data and generally do their jobs, according to Smith.
The more sources end-users have, especially from individuals trading the security in question, the greater likelihood of getting transparent and vetted prices, he explains. “If you have a whole bunch of dealers who trade a security, and you can get them all in one spot, in real time or at least a couple times a day, you’ll have a much better idea and more confidence where that’s trading,” says Smith. “Some vendors are better than others at it.”
However, with multiple sources, data silos present an obstacle to achieving transparency, according to Victor Olex, founder and president of VT.Enterprise, a Jersey City, N.J.-based provider of financial industry technology. Data-sharing methods including extract-transform-load processes (ETL), service-oriented architecture (SOA) and data warehousing all fail to address the problems created by silos, adds Olex.
VT.Enterprise uses “resource-oriented architecture” (ROA) which allows data to remain in a user’s original systems while offering a central, on-demand and uniform access mechanism to all data stores, in interoperable fashion, under standard data formats, according to Olex.
Aug 28 2012
/db added to ProgrammableWeb
/db has been included in ProgrammableWeb, a community curated, prestigious index of web APIs.
Dear agilevic,
The SlashDB API is now live on ProgrammableWeb. You can view it here: http://www.programmableweb.com/api/slashdb
Thanks for sharing it with our community. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.
Best regards,
The ProgrammableWeb Team
Jun 1 2012
Mortgage Bond Analytics Firm Selects Assetcloud
Assetcloud, a /db – based custom solution for delivering market data, securities reference data, risk management and customer account data as a web service, has been chosen by leading mortgage bond analytics company. Assetcloud will enhance client access to their platform from a centralized and secure cloud vs. on-premise deployment, while enabling friction-less implementation and delivery of their products. We are excited about this new development and are working closely with them to ensure successful launch.
