The interesting thing about this project is that it exposes the "raw" power of the engine. Some basic performance tests show this really is the case.
At the lowest level, PBXT does not impose any format on the data stored in tables and indexes. When running as a MySQL storage engine it uses the MySQL native row and index formats. Theoretically it would be possible to expose this in an embedded API. The work Martin is doing goes in at this level. The wrapper around the engine determines the data types, data sizes, row and index format. Comparison operations for the data types are also supplied by the embedded code or user program.
This flexibility will make it possible for an application to store its own data very efficiently. As Martin suggested, it would also be possible to use Google's protobuf's for the row format. This would eliminate the need to use an ALTER TABLE for many types of changes to a table's definition!
Of course, EPBXT is still a way from realizing this vision, and Martin has some very specific problems he wants to solve with the development. However, judging by his command of the code within such a short time, this is going to be a project to watch in the future!
PlanetMySQL Voting: Vote UP / Vote DOWN