Welcome to Web Services
At XML.com we have a long history of being interested in what happens when interoperability between computing systems becomes a reality. Back in 1999 we pondered the coming future of interoperating online applications (Tim O'Reilly, Edd Dumbill). As well as protocols like XML-RPC and SOAP, we saw that simple XML document formats like RSS also provided a basis for cooperation between online applications.
Almost four years on, the world of web services, as we now know them, is not so different. A broad and sometimes confusing array of standards competes for mindshare among developers. These are inspired by, and influence, a variety of philosophical approaches as to how web services should be implemented, from SOAP through REST to the Semantic Web. Similarly, diverse XML vocabulary frameworks for exchanging data continue to grow and stabilize, providing a foundation for more complex interaction patterns between online applications.
One of the most intriguing aspects of web services is their continual interaction with the community at large. The adoption of open standards, and very often open source tools and applications, means that there's little outright ownership by large, closed interests. Anyone with programming skills can join in the web services game. Popular sites like Google and Amazon have opened up their services, and we're seeing a host of fun and innovative applications created using the building blocks they provide.
Here at XML.com we wanted to give room to the exploration and coverage of web services, moving outside the scope of purely XML-related matters. So we're launching our Web Services site, with the brief of examining the infrastructure, application, and fun of web services. As with XML.com, we'll bring our own independent voice to the area. We'll seek out innovation and controversy as well as the mainstream.
How You Can Be Involved
To find out when new content is published on the Web Services site, sign up for the Web Services newsletter.
The editorial team is always ready to hear your opinions on what you would like to see covered in the future on the web site, so please feel free to send email to me at edd@xml.com with suggestions.
If you're involved with web services in any way, you should consider contributing to the site. We are looking for articles on but not limited to the following topics:
- Programming web services: .NET, Java, Perl, Python, Apache, etc.
- Web services standards: SOAP, WSDL, WS-*, BEEP, HTTP, etc.
- Security, identity, instant messaging, mobile web services.
- Using public web services: taking advantage of Google, Amazon, etc.
- Fun, guerrilla, and grassroots applications of web services.
If you're interested in contributing on these topics, or any other related issue, please send an abstract and a short bio to me at edd@xml.com. We'll then get back to you to discuss your proposal.
