Challenge

Developers at Sony Creative Software building Blu-Print, a Blu-ray authoring software, learned that the object-relational mapping (ORM) technology they used would not scale. The resources required to produce a Blu-ray disc, which can involve as many as 200,000 objects, demanded a fast and reliable database capable of handling an equal number of complex object relationships. What‘s more, the emerging Blu-ray specification itself was in flux, and every change to the spec required a corresponding adjustment to the data model and database schema. These and other factors led to the selection of Versant‘s db4o object database.

Whenever a change was required to the data model, a time-consuming process ensued, requiring the export of all data to XML, updating and migrating the schema, and then reimporting the data.

"In the end, the scope of that process caused limitations in making major feature additions. If database changes did occur without the process, for example the addition of a field or column, the ORM layer would not understand the new schema and would just crash or be unable to open," said John Ying, the architect working on Blu-Print.

The ORM sits between the database and the app, and manages the database structure, connections, tables and everything else. There was no good way to change the data model using the ORM technology. "So we had to store the data elsewhere while doing the export and initially hand coded an Excel database to keep the information. It’s a big hassle," explained Ying.

Solution

db4o easily solved those problems. "Now all we do is make the change. The db4o engine gives us the flexibility to modify the schema as needed. If db4o doesn‘t understand a new field, it will just skip the new field and continue to load the information." In other words, the application will consume and operate on information it understands, and ignore information it does not, continuing to function until requisite changes are made to the schema.

"That gives you the flexibility to operate between releases, and it handles [older versions] gracefully, rather than refusing to open at all." The same applies for adding a subclass, renaming fields and other common adjustments to an application.

Results

Since the db4o solution includes a self-contained database, Blu-Print users maintain the database file themselves, and are able to open and close the file or create new ones as needed. "The result was a lot more robustness and stability in the system," said Ying. "Having db4o embedded in the application eases the configuration and installation requirements. And since it‘s not on a server, it runs on the same client as the application itself, it has a smaller footprint and is much less complicated." With db4o, performance was improved in virtually every aspect of the program, according to Ying.

About Sony Creative Software

Sony Creative Software inspires artistic expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, audio, and music production, as well as industry-leading technology for DVD production and Blu-ray Disc™ authoring. Sound Forge™ Pro, ACID™ Pro, and Vegas™ Pro software have defined digital content creation for a generation of creative professionals. These signature product lines continue to advance media production by providing powerful, accessible tools. The company provides the industry-leading tools for enterprise-level Blu-ray Disc™ authoring: Blu-code™ encoder, Blu-print® software, and on-Q Create® for Blu-ray Java. Blu-Print is used by most major movie studios and post-production services companies in the U.S. Sony Creative Software’s customers span the globe and include professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries, as well as students, educators, and hobbyists.