This document presents a semantic web/RDF library tailored for .NET developers, addressing the limitations of existing libraries in supporting the latest SPARQL 1.1 features and compatibility with .NET's design principles. The library is open source, written in C#, and provides a range of features including a SPARQL 1.1 engine and support for various third-party triple stores. Future enhancements are planned to improve its capabilities and add new features like full RDFa 1.1 parsing support.

1. A Semantic Web/RDF Library for .Net DevelopersRob VesseECS, University of Southamptonrvesse@dotnetrdf.org

2. MotivationWanted to be able to code PhD Research projects using a .Net technology stackExisting libraries didn’t fit project needsLimited choice of 3rd Party Triple StoresLack of latest SPARQL Support i.e. 1.1 featuresSome libraries didn’t really feel like .Neti.e. Java style in design, naming conventions etc.6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org2

3. About the LibraryCompletely free and open sourceTriple licensed – pick from GPL, LGPL or MIT depending on your needsWritten in C# for .Net 3.5 and higherBuilds for standard .Net, Mono, Silverlightand Windows Phone 7 (latter two are cut down and community contributed)6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org3

4. Design OverviewCore RDF ModelNodes, Triples, Graphs and Triple Stores Extensible at almost every levelPlug in your own implementations to the API for everything from Graphs to external Triple StoresUses simple and intuitive .Net featuresLINQ to Objects, Properties, Indexers, Extension Methods etc.6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org4

5. Simple Intuitive Code//Load a Graph from a FileGraphg = newGraph();g.LoadFromFile("example.rdf");//Print all Triples with a Blank Node SubjectNTriplesFormatterformatter = newNTriplesFormatter();foreach(Triple t in g.Triples){if(t.Subject.NodeType == NodeType.Blank) {Console.WriteLine(t.ToString(formatter)); }}6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org5

6. Leviathan - A SPARQL 1.1 EngineCapable of performing SPARQL queries in-memory on small amounts of data (<=1m Triples)Supports both Query and Update including powerful features like:Property PathsFederated Query ExtensionsUpdate Transactions6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org6

7. 3rd Party Triple Store SupportSupports a range of well known 3rd Party Triple StoresAllegroGraph, 4store, Fuseki, Joseki, Sesame, Talis, Stardog and VirtuosoPlus generic SPARQL store supportAll accessed by a common interface i.e. easy to switch in and out different storage as needed6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org7

8. ToolingWe also provide a Toolkit of useful command line and GUI toolsIncludes utilities like conversion and queryIncludes rdfEditor our Notepad replacement for RDF and SPARQL editingDesigned to make it possible to get you started experimenting with RDF and SPARQL on Windows without having to code yourself6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org8

9. Coming SoonImprovements and optimisations of our SPARQL EngineFull RDFa 1.1 parsing support including RDFa in SVG, XML etc.Full SPIN (SPARQL Inferencing Notation) implementationFuture PlansRefresh of our SQL based storage optionsOWL SupportSPARQL ExtensionsFull Text searchGeoSPARQL6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org9

10. Questions?Via Email: rvesse@dotnetrdf.orgVia Twitter: @RobVesseVia Website: http://www.dotnetrdf.orgVia Mailing List: dotnetrdf-support@lists.sf.net6/6/2011http://www.dotnetrdf.org10