How to get started with RDF? (Particularly for relational database developers?)

Question

I am putting together a catalog (catalogs by nature are just metadata), and so rather than using a database, I am using an RDF store and SPARQL processor to compile the data. I am at the pattern-matching stage (the fun part). So, I get to come up with lots of patterns that are simple to define in SPARQL, and then provide that information to the people who use the catalog.

Ok, here's my question:

I have worked on a few projects using RDF, and it seems like getting started is the hardest part (at least for me), particularily if I have to start from scratch. So, I have started to put together a very basic starter kit for myself, but I wanted to see if there is anything else out there that might be better... something like the interactive command lines that many scripting languages offer, or like phpMyAdmin (but for triples).

I have seen:

• Some Web front ends, attached to endpoints such as OpenLink (an example is http://dbpedia.org/sparql), but the ones I have seen still require a lot of manual work (because they are intended for a general audience).

• There are tools like the Tabulator (http://dig.csail.mit.edu/2007/tab/), but their focus is more on combining and visualizing datasets rather than creating new datasets.

• A lot of work also goes into describing existing data in RDF.

• Some tools that are paid online services (I would prefer to install my own)

Does anyone know of a system to help get started creating an initial RDF store, and setting user preferences, etc., to get started with new projects that use RDF.

Answer 1

I would strongly recommend downloading and installing Top Braid Composer

It has loads of stuff to make Semantic Web development easier and there is a free edition.

Answer 2

You might want to have a look at the Sesame Windows Client (SWC) (disclaimer: I am one of its developers).

SWC is a graphical desktop app (in .Net) for connecting with a Sesame server (or any SPARQL endpoint), but it also offers options to just create a local triplestore on the fly (without the need for a server). IMHO it's a useful tool for "getting started with RDF".

Answer 3

I've given a couple of talks on this subject titled Everyday Tools for the Semantic Web Developer which cover a variety of useful tools some of which I developed and others from the open source community.