| The simplicity of XML in combination with the Web has opened up new possibilities for moving data and for building new application architectures centered around common Internet protocols. Some of the changes brought about by XML include: -
Reduced dependence on proprietary data formats for applications -
A new way to do B2B data exchange using XML instead of the formats defined by traditional EDI systems -
A shift from relying on tightly coupled systems such as CORBA, RMI, and DCOM to a more loosely coupled Internet-based frame work centered around XML and SOAP -
A change in focus from object-oriented to service-oriented software -
The emergence of Web services as technology for discovering and connecting to Internet-based services -
A move away from monolithic applications that attempt to do it all to a more organic software model that derives new capabilities from the combination of well-defined , limited software modules -
The consolidation of the software industry around two competing architectures, Microsoft's .NET and Sun's J2EE, speci fications implemented by many of the major middleware vendors including IBM, Sun, BEA, Oracle, HP, and others Placed in context, these changes reflect a major shift in the software industry from monolithic applications to applications built up from constituent pieces in an environment that fosters open , collaborative development. |