SDMX lab

SDMX lab

The SDMX lab is the ideal starting point for anyone looking to explore and work hands-on with SDMX. Whether you’re just getting started with the standards or diving into practical implementation, the lab gives you a personal, isolated SDMX environment of key tools from the sdmx.io ecosystem – ready to go, with no setup or installation required: Hands-on SDMX. Instantly.

General Overview

The SDMX lab offers each user a personal, browser-based SDMX environment. No installation, configuration, or setup required. It’s your private sandbox to explore, experiment, and learn SDMX in a self-paced, hands-on way. Hands-on SDMX. Instantly.

By combining key tools from the sdmx.io ecosystem including the Fusion Metadata Registry (FMR) and the .Stat Suite, the lab supports both structured onboarding and rapid experimentation. It enables a wide range of workflows, from metadata creation to data dissemination.

Rather than being a standalone tool, the SDMX lab acts as an integrated entry point and testing ground for the broader SDMX ecosystem. As new tools and capabilities are introduced, they are seamlessly added to your lab environment, making it a continuously evolving platform for SDMX learning and development. To request access, simply email us at: sdmx@analytical-software.de

Key Use Cases

  • Getting started with SDMX Explore SDMX tools in a fully configured, isolated environment. It’s ready to use from the first click.
  • Training and learning Provide participants with dedicated lab instances that replicate real-world SDMX environments. All tools are pre-integrated and tested.
  • Rapid onboarding Skip setup and compatibility issues. Lab instances are provisioned within minutes and work out of the box.
  • Tool evaluation Experiment with new tools or SDMX versions without technical overhead or local installation.

Core Features

  • Cockpit Your personalized landing page and central hub for everything SDMX lab. The Cockpit offers quick access to all integrated tools and applications and will continue to evolve with new workflows and user journeys over time.
  • Fusion Metadata Registry (FMR) Fully integrated into each lab instance, FMR allows users to author, maintain, and validate SDMX structural metadata such as Data Structure Definitions (DSDs), Codelists, and Concept Schemes via an intuitive web interface. It supports:
    • Validation of data against structural metadata
    • Dataset transformation using SDMX structure mapping
    • Conversion between SDMX data formats (XML, JSON, EDI)
  • .Stat Suite A powerful, widely adopted platform for managing the SDMX data lifecycle. In the lab, the .Stat Suite is already fully integrated, allowing you to validate, transform, and disseminate statistical data through an intuitive, browser-based interface.
  • Global Reset Button Want to start fresh? Instantly reset your lab instance with a single click. All data is cleared and the environment is restored to its initial state. It’s perfect for testing or training.
  • FusionXL Support Bring SDMX into Excel. With FusionXL, you can explore and edit structures, create datasets using guided picklists, validate your work instantly, and export to SDMX formats (XML, JSON, EDI)—all without leaving your spreadsheet and everything synced into FMR.
  • Public Registries Integration Access public SDMX registries directly from your lab instance. Import real-world metadata, experiment with live structures, and connect your instance to open data sources for hands-on learning and testing.

Roadmap

  • SDMX Reference Infrastructure (SDMX-RI) Integration Enable web-based dissemination of SDMX-compliant data from existing databases.
  • Best-Practice Guide for Course Moderators Provide structured guidance and examples for educators using the lab in training environments.
  • Notebook Access to Tools Introduces interactive notebook interfaces (e.g., Jupyter) for programmatic interaction with SDMX tools, supporting advanced data manipulation and automation.
  • Validation and Transformation Language (VTL) Support Implements a user-friendly interface for editing VTL scripts and an execution environment, empowering users to define and apply complex validation and transformation rules.
  • Fusion Workbench for .Stat Suite Expand editing and management capabilities for SDMX structures within the .Stat Suite to enhance workflow efficiency.
  • Streamlined Sign-Up Procedure Simplify the onboarding process, making the SDMX lab more accessible and reducing entry barriers for new users.