ATLAS Metadata Interfaces (AMI) and ATLAS metadata catalogs

The ATLAS Metadata Interface (AMI) project provides a set of generic tools for managing database applications. AMI has a three-tier architecture with a core that supports a connection to any RDBMS using JDBC and SQL. The middle layer assumes that the databases have an AMI compliant self-describing structure. It provides a generic web interface and a generic command line interface. The top layer contains application specific features. The principal uses of AMI are the ATLAS Data Challenge dataset bookkeeping catalogs, and Tag Collector, a tool for release management. The first AMI Web service client was introduced in early 2004. It offers many advantages over earlier clients because: - Web services permit multi-language and multi-operating system support - The user interface is very effectively de-coupled from the implementation. Most upgrades can be implemented on the server side; no redistribution of client software is needed. In 2004 this client will be used for the ATLAS Data Challenge 2, for the ATLAS combined test beam offline bookkeeping, and also in the first prototypes of ARDA compliant analysis interfaces