Sun offers bridge between XML and Java

Sun Microsystems has published details of two application programming interfaces (APIs) aimed at linking rival ebusiness programming standards Java and XML.

The interfaces - Java API for XML Messaging (JAXM) and the Java API for XML Parsing (JAXP) - form the foundation of XML support in the Java2 platform, along with the Java API for XML Data Binding. Both are downloadable free through Sun's Java Developer Connection at http://java.sun.com/jdc.

JAXM provides packaging, routing and transport of XML and other messages using HTTP, SMTP and FTP. Future versions of the interface will support other messaging methods including those being defined in the ebXML (electronic business XML) initiative framework by the Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business.

The draft specification of JAMX is expected to be ready in early 2001.

JAXP enables the reading, manipulating and generating of XML documents through Java APIs by providing a standard way to integrate any XML-compliant parser with a Java-based application.

The first version supports the latest XML standards including the Document Object Model level 2, a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) recommendation that was released last month; Simple API for XML level 2, the industry standard for XML parsing; and XSL Transformation, an integrated XML transformation standard defined by the W3C. Sun plans to ship the final version in the first quarter of 2001.

George Paolini, Sun's vice-president of technology 'evangelism', claimed the early access availability of these Java technologies means developers could get a head start on developing next-generation business-to-business (B2B) applications.

"The Java platform and XML are two open industry standards that together are enabling the world of B2B ecommerce, which will allow enterprises to greatly simplify and lower the cost of information sharing and data exchange," he said.

Sun also said its Java API for XML Binding, which takes specific XML document type definitions and compiles them directly into Java classes, will be available by the end of this year.