The W3C has announced their intention to pursue activity
in XML-based protocols such as SOAP, following pressure
from various sources to address the "threat of
fragmentation" and also the "exciting opportunities"
presented by this area. Attendees at XTech 2000 will be
able to give input to the planning of this activity.
In a
message to the xml-dist-app
mailing list, Eric Prud'hommeaux said:
We need to figure out where standardization is most
important, and
which technologies can be developed independently. We are
looking at
components like data typing, marshalling conventions,
synchronous/asynchronous messaging, social protocol
attachments,
protocol definition and machine verification, etc.
Prud'hommeaux said that as XML Schema and XSL-FO work
nears its completion, more resources would be available for
work on XML protocols.
The W3C is trying to set up a birds-of-a-feather session
at XTech 2000 for interested parties to provide input to
the activity. Confirmation of this will be sent to the xml-
dist-app mailing list -- we'll also ensure updated
information is posted on xmlhack.
- Further sessions are planned at the Adelaide IETF, and
at WWW9 in Amsterdam in the W3C track.