***Sun Microsystems Leads Industry Effort to Simplify XML
Development
(December 7)
According to DACafe, Sun Microsystems made two announcements that
underscore its support for the eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
with the Java 2 platform: the availability of the Java
Application Programming Interface (API) for XML Parsing Optional
Package (JAXP), and the formation of an expert group for the XML
Data Binding project. The expert group for this project, which is
going through the Java Community Process, consists of Allaire,
Ariba, BEA/Web Logic, Bluestone Software, AOL/Netscape,
Extensibility, Fujitsu, IBM, Object Design, Oracle, webMethods
and Sun Microsystems.
With these announcements, Sun is leading the effort to deliver
XML technologies for the Java 2 platform that will ease the
creation and maintenance of Java technology-based applications
enabled by XML and improve portability of data exchange between
disparate business systems.
In 1996, Sun spearheaded an initiative through the W3C to develop
the eXtensible Markup Language (XML), a standards-based universal
syntax for describing and structuring data in a way that is
independent from the application logic. Sun's announcement of the
Java technologies for XML provides universal application logic
that complements XML. The Java 2 platform and XML are
complementary technologies that each have common features for
industrial-strength Web-based applications, including platform-
independence, industry standards, extensible, reusable, and
global language support. Together, the Java 2 platform and XML
will allow enterprises to simplify and lower the cost of
information sharing and exchange in Web applications.
The JAXP Optional Package allows developers to build Java-based
applications enabled by XML for e-commerce, enterprise
application integration, and web publishing. An optional package
is a standard Java API that is not part of the Java Runtime
Environment but can be optionally added depending on specific
application needs. JAXP is now in early access release and
available free-of-charge at:
java.sun.com/xml
The final version of JAXP is scheduled to ship in the first
quarter of 2000. The JAXP optional package provides basic
functionality for reading, manipulating, and generating XML
documents through pure Java APIs. Seamlessly integrated with the
Java 2 platform, JAXP provides a standard way for a Java
platform-based application to plug in any XML-conformant parser.
While the reference implementation uses Sun's experimental Java
Project X as its default XML parser, the software's pluggable
architecture allows any XML- conformant parser to be used, such
as the xml.apache.org XML parser, code named Xerces.
JAXP is being developed through the Java Community Process (JCP),
which is the formalization of the open process that Sun has been
using since 1995 to develop and revise Java technology
specifications in cooperation with the international community of
developers using Java technologies. Sun also announced the expert
group of industry leaders within the JCP that is working to
create XML Data Binding software for the Java 2 platform. This
project, code-named Project Adelard, will enable developers to
deliver and maintain high-performance XML-enabled applications
with a minimum of development effort.
Project Adelard provides a two-way mapping between XML documents
and Java technology-based objects along with a schema compiler
tool. The compiler will automatically generate Java classes from
XML schemas without requiring developers to write any complex
parsing code. In addition, the compiler will contain automatic
error and validity of checking of XML messages, helping to ensure
that only valid, error-free messages are accepted and processed
by a system. Thus, not only will developers be able to more
easily develop and process Java technology-based applications
that leverage XML, but enterprises will also lower costs through
more productive development.
www.sun.com
www.javabusinessconference.com
Wave Issue 2000 1/3/00 Article 7-01