FAQ
What is metadata and why it is so important?
Metadata is the mean for systems, applications and users to manage and access resources without a need for interaction with the resource itself.
How TheBox differs from a traditional database?
We refer this to as "model first versus data first". In a traditional database the domain modeling is genrally carefully done before start managing the data itself; the role of the DBA is to build close to the vertical, business specific, optimized indexes for the specific application. Basically retaining control over the stored information is the key to build highly efficient and scaleable internet application. In a dynamic and chaning environment such as the Web, especially where user-generated content is being combined with domanin specific information is often necessary to change, adapt and evolve the model to fit new requirements as they come into the workflow. This aspect will be even more relevant in the upcoming Web of data, where several distributed uncontrolled semi-structured pieces of information as being aggregated, managed and redistributed. TheBox is the core component of the TheBox architecture which enables to build and maintain a-posteriori optimized parallel indexes (views) of metadata, enabling such dynamically chaning and evolving workflows.