A recent comment on topic map design patterns reads in part:
The second problem, and the one I’m working through now, is that information modeling with topic maps is a new paradigm for me (and most people I’m sure) and the information on topic map models is widely dispersed. Techquila had some design patterns that were very useful and later those were put put in a paper by A. Kal but, in general, it is a lot more difficult to figure out the information model with topic maps than it is with SQL or NoSQL or RDF because those other technologies have a lot more open discussions of designs to cover specific use cases. If those discussions existed for topic maps, it would make it easier for non-experts like me to connect the high-level this-is-how-topic-maps-work type information (that is plentiful) with the this-is-the-problem-and-this-is-the-model-that-solves-it type information (that is hard to find for topic maps).
Specifically, the problem I’m trying to solve and many other real world problems need a semi-structured information model, not just an amorphous blob of topics and associations. There are multiple dimensions of hierarchies and sequences that need to be modeled so that the end user can query the system with OLAP type queries where they drill up and down or pan forward and back through the information until they find what they need.
Do you know of any books of Topic Maps use cases and/or design patterns?
Unfortunately I had to say that I knew of no “Topic Maps use cases and/or design patterns” books.
There is XML topic maps : creating and using topic maps for the Web by Sam Hunting and Jack Park, but it isn’t what I would call a design pattern book.
While searching for the Hunting/Park book I did find: Topic Maps: Semantische Suche im Internet (Xpert.press) (German Edition) [Paperback] by Richard Widhalm (Author), Thomas Mück, with a 2012 publication date. Don’t be deceived. This is a reprint of the 2002 edition.
Any books that I have missed on topic maps modeling in particular?
The comment identifies a serious lack of resources on use cases and design patterns for topic maps.
My suggestion is that we all refresh our memories of Kal’s work on topic map design patterns (which I will cover in a separate post) and start to correct this deficiency.
What say you all?