RDFLIB: Discussion of the RDF utilities for POD apps

RDF utility functions have been widely used in a number of SII projects, for example,

• bstim
• gurriny
• keypod
• podnotes
• solidpod

and likely soon in rio.

Many of the utility functions used in these projects either make use of the rdflib Dart package, or were written from scratch by manipulating the RDF strings in Dart code, or a mix of both approaches.

The advantage of rdflib Dart package is it being native in Dart and SII has full control of it, but it falls short in features compared to the rdflib Python package or the rdflib.js (see this example).

This issue is for a discussion of how we may approach this important utility, as more and more apps need to process RDF data. Here are some potential options:

• Keep the status quo. Use the rdflib Dart package and write additional RDF utility functions in Dart as needed.
• Invest more resources to further develop the rdflib Dart package, and gradually refactor existing codebase to use this package to make them easier to maintain.
• Make use of the rdflib Python package on native platforms (e.g. through dartpy) and the rdflib.js for the web platform (e.g. use Dart JS interop), and gradually drop the dependence on the rdflib Dart package.

Ideas and thoughts on the pros and cons, or more options?

Start by reviewing the listed SII projects and the existing Dart rdflib package, then compare the three proposed approaches with the linked Python and JavaScript packages. Done means the discussion reaches a documented decision on how RDF utilities should be handled for current and future apps.