BACKPACK is a comprehensive “hypersystem,” a system that can be used for creating, organizing, and managing other systems, for instance websites or apps. The presentation layer can be integrated or implemented independently using the API, in other words it can be decoupled.
It is a multifaceted platform that combines various technologies, such as graph databases, declarative components, and multimedia capabilities. Although BACKPACK incorporates elements of data and content management systems, it cannot be considered as either. This is because it is designed to handle ambiguous use cases that don’t exclusively involve data or content management. While BACKPACK can certainly take the role of a CMS or act as an alternative to relational databases, it is a vertically-integrated platform that can plug in at any point of the development process.
Rather than building your project around BACKPACK, the system adapts to your needs. It can seamlessly integrate into your existing products or streamline the process of creating a new digital system. The focus on decoupling and scalability not only expedites the building of simple websites, but is also compatible with modern agile development frameworks in large projects.
The semantic and hierarchical data structures at its core enable the creation of reactive data models, which update automatically in response to changes. Therefore, BACKPACK can be utilized in anything from scalable web apps to cognitive systems and AI. The platform can be interacted with, both with a user-friendly visual interface (the web app), as well as programmatically (using the query language).
To accurately represent the multidimensional data structures and the intricacies of complex systems, BACKPACK uses a custom query language that was specifically designed for this purpose. The BACKPACK Query Language is the programmatic interface used to interact with the BACKPACK system. Every interaction with the data that can be performed within the UI can also be achieved using the language. It supports both input and output operations, enabling both the reading as well as the writing and manipulation of data. As a result BACKPACK can be integrated into systems that require adaptation and dynamic updating.
All features of the query language are explained in detail in a dedicated handbook. While its syntax prioritizes a positive and intuitive experience for developers, particularly those acquainted with SQL and other query languages, the handbook illustrates the concepts of the language with numerous practical examples. This ensures that learning the language is as user-friendly as possible.
In addition to documenting the syntax of the language, the handbook also explains how to programmatically interface with the system. The user has the choice of running the language locally with the built-in PHP library, or remotely using the API. With the API the commands can be executed using any preferred programming language. This versatile approach has the best of both worlds: simplicity and compatibility.
