W3C Completes Work on Critical Web Services Standard
WSDL 2.0 Builds on WS-I Basic Profile improvements; Expands with full HTTP and SOAP Support for Web Applications
http://www.w3.org/ -- 27 June 2007 -- Today, W3C has finalized a Web services description language with full support of the primary protocol for the Web, HTTP, and the most frequently implemented Web services protocol, SOAP. Web Services Description Language (WSDL) 2.0 incorporates both the improvements for WSDL 1.1 found in the WS-I Basic Profile, and builds in inheritance, import functions, improved description of faults and errors, and full HTTP and SOAP support. Rigorous testing and interop sessions, including week-long programming marathons by the Web Services Description Working Group itself, have produced a solid interoperable standard that delivers on the goals of the initial WSDL 1.1 version, and also meets the needs of Web applications developers today.
"It's been a long time in development, but developers can see it's been worth the wait," explained Jonathan Marsh, co-chair of the W3C Web Services Description Working Group and Director of Mashup Technologies at WSO2. "In addition to the rigorous interoperability testing, we're pleased to have given developers the HTTP binding, which provides simple Web-friendly access to a service when the advanced features available in the SOAP stack, such as WS-Addressing, WS-Security, and WS-ReliableMessaging, aren't required."
WSDL 2.0 Development Began with Stringent Interoperability Requirements, Finished with Conversion Tools and Support in Emerging Web Standards
Wide interest in SOAP 1.1 and WSDL 1.1 marked the beginning of Web Services pursuits. The hope of interoperability in the initial, non-standardized versions was not immediately fulfilled in spite of the large number of developers who moved to that model for applications development. WS-I, for example, formed to create profiles based on non-standard versions of the popular Web Services technologies.
Against this backdrop, the W3C Membership urged the Consortium to develop an interoperable WSDL standard. Through significant issue tracking by the Working Group itself, and through cooperative work with the WS-I Basic Profile Working Group, it was possible to identify initial improvements and build from there for both SOAP 1.2 and WSDL 2.0.
Those who have built implementations that conform to the WS-I Basic Profile may use a converter to WSDL 2.0, thus easing the transition to the new standard and enabling use of new features.
Further, WSDL 2.0 support is built into critical emerging Web services standards, including Semantic Annotations for WSDL (SAWSDL) and WS-Policy 1.5, both anticipated in September 2007.
WSDL 2.0 Lets Developers Choose WS Application Development Models; HTTP or SOAP
With the increased popularity of REST-model as well as SOAP over HTTP, the Working Group recognized the clear need for complete HTTP support in Web application descriptions. As a result, WSDL 2.0 has complete HTTP and SOAP support, making it useful for both simple Web applications and Web Services applications that require additional functionality.
WSDL 2.0 Created and Implemented by Industry Leaders; Wide Deployment Anticipated
The Web Services Description Working Group has enjoyed the participation of many industry leaders in the area of applications development and is co-chaired by Marsh and Tony Rogers of CA. Current participants in the WSD Working Group are, in alphabetical order, Adobe Systems Inc.; Agfa-Gevaert N. V.; BEA Systems, Inc.; BT; CA; Canon, Inc.; IBM; University of Innsbruck; IONA Technologies, Inc.; Maryland Information and Network Dynamics Lab at the University of Maryland; Microsoft Corporation; Oracle Corporation; Rogue Wave Software; SAP AG; Sonic Software; Sun Microsystems, Inc.; TIBCO Software, Inc.; WSO2; and Xerox Corporation.
Many companies have stated that they expect to support WSDL 2.0 in upcoming product releases, including Adobe Systems Inc.; CA; IBM; Sun Microsystems, Inc; webMethods; and WSO2. Details on support and implementation plans are provided in the testimonial sheet.
About the World Wide Web Consortium [W3C]
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international consortium where Member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards. W3C primarily pursues its mission through the creation of Web standards and guidelines designed to ensure long-term growth for the Web. Over 400 organizations are Members of the Consortium. W3C is jointly run by the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (MIT CSAIL) in the USA, the European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM) headquartered in France and Keio University in Japan,and has additional Offices worldwide. For more information see http://www.w3.org/
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- Janet Daly, <janet@w3.org>, +1.617.253.5884 or +1.617.253.2613
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Testimonials for WSDL 2.0 Recommendation
Adobe Systems | IBM | WSO2 | WS-I
Adobe Systems
Adobe actively supports the development of Web services and welcomes the new WSDL 2.0 Recommendation. WSDL 2.0 is a core component in building the next generation of Web services -- delivering the means fortrue system interoperation. As a provider of SOA-enabled technologies thatprovide a foundation for developers to build enterprise applications that are reuseable, extensible, web-friendly and provide complete binding support for Web services, Adobe applauds the hard-earned success of the Working Group members. As an active participant in the WSDL 2.0 effort, we are committed to continue our active support of W3C efforts in this area.
-- Charlton Barreto, Computer Scientist, Adobe SystemsIBM
"IBM congratulates the W3C Web Services Description Working Group on achieving Recommendation status for WSDL 2.0. New features in WSDL 2.0 will enable customers to achieve better integration and synergy between simple HTTP-based services (REST) and SOAP-based Web services. Customers will be able to leverage their existing investments in implementations that use the WS-I Basic Profile (which documents correct use of WSDL 1.1) in parallel with the new WSDL 2.0 features.
Our product support for WSDL 2.0 begins with the IBM CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2, generally available on 29th June 2007. The CICS Web Services Assistant has been enhanced to support both WSDL 1.1 and 2.0, and to transition between the two, to ensure that CICS will interoperate with modern tools, infrastructure and service components in the SOA environment."
WSO2
WSO2 is very pleased to see the WSDL 2.0 family of specifications become W3C Recommendations. These specs represent the distillation of years of accumulated industry experience with WSDL 1.1-based interoperability. As a contributor to the open source Apache Axis2 project, WSO2 has helped build comprehensive WSDL 2.0 support into the latest versions of Axis2. Axis2 and its new WSDL 2.0 support is incorporated into the WSO2 Web Services Application Server, a free and open source platform for creating, consuming, and managing Web Services.
-- Sanjiva Weerawarana, CEO, WSO2WS-I
WS-I congratulates the W3C Web Services Description Working Group on WSDL 2.0 becoming a Recommendation. Many WS-I members have worked closely with the W3C Working Group, providing feedback on how to improve on the original WSDL 1.1 submission. WSDL 1.1 is part of the WS-I Basic Profile 1.1, based on WSDL 1.1, SOAP 1.1 and UDDI 2.0, which provides interoperability guidance to developers who are generating Web services to be deployed into a heterogeneous environment.
-- Michael Bechauf, President and Chairman of the Board, WS-I