Open Source at heart.
RexDB™ is unique in that it strives to combine the power and functionality of an advanced data management system, with the intuitive user interface of a consumer-level application — all while being securely accessible from anywhere in the world via the Internet.
Prometheus designed RexDB™ to address the realities of research, including the desire for unrestricted future access to data. To ensure that data stored in RexDB™ systems would always remain available, the development team chose to use Open Source tools and components whenever possible.
When Open Source options were unavailable, Prometheus often developed the tools from scratch — and promptly open-sourced the most critical of
these as well:
HTSQL
The Internet speaks HTTP. Databases speak SQL. Hyper Text Structured Query Language (HTSQL) is a translator from HTTP URLs into SQL queries, allowing applications to "talk" with relational databases over the Internet.
More information about the HTSQL project is available at HTSQL.org.
DBGUI
Database Graphical User Interface (DBGUI) uses HTSQL (see above) to automatically generate screens for browsing, managing, and querying data stored in a
PostgreSQL database.
More information about the DBGUI project is available at DBGUI.org.
RexDB™ System Structure
RexDB™ Systems are composed of multiple components working together to provide secure, scalable access
to research data:
- Each server (hardware) starts with a recent version of FreeBSD as its base operating system.
- One or more instances of the PostgreSQL database engine and the WSGI Application Server (software) make up the next layer of the system.
- An instance of HTSQL is used to translate communication to and from the PostgreSQL database by both custom server-side components and the client-side Javascript components referenced below.
- When a user accesses a RexDB™ server with their web browser, they automatically download the required components for browsing data with DBGUI. Custom components are downloaded as needed.
