The
XML:DB initiative has been working to develop a standard
API -- similar in scope to ODBC, JDBC, and the Perl DBI -- to
facilitate interoperability between native XML database
applications and "lower the learning curve for XML database
development". Kimbro Staken has announced the release of a reference
implementation (in Java) of the current draft specification
of the API.
The release (1.5 Mb tar.gz) includes source
code (distributed under Apache-style license), a Java driver
development kit, and a limited test suite. The reference
implementation joins a list of other implementations of the
API that includes the open-source applications dbXML and eXist
(another open-source project, Ozone, has
an implementation in the works). Staken writes:
The API has reached the point
where the core design is complete and the details required
for interoperable implementations are being hammered out.
Anyone interested in implementing the API is encouraged to
participate in the project. The open source databases are
already well covered so I'm very interested in seeing
implementations for the commercial
databases.
Interested developers should subscribe to
the XML:DB initiative's
xapi-dev mailing list by e-mailing a subscribe
message to <xapi-dev-request@xmldb.org>.