Silverstream is claiming to be the first company to produce an XML
integration server based on IBM's Web Services Flow Language
(WSFL), writes Eric Doyle.
The new elements of the Silverstream Extend suite were launched at
JavaOne in San Francisco last week. The system runs on Java-based
application servers such as IBM's Websphere and BEA's Weblogic as
well as Silverstream's own offering. It provides an environment for
the development and management of interactive Web services.
WSFL is an emerging XML language mooted by IBM that describes Web
services compositions (collections of services required for a
specific business process). There are two basic types of
compositions: the flow model specifies the usage pattern of a group
of services; and the global model shows the interactions between
those services.
WSFL is being put forward as an open standard and it is likely that
Microsoft will integrate it with its own business process
automation language, Xlang, used by its Biztalk .net Server.
Silverstream Extend comprises three basic applications: Composer,
Director and Workbench. Composer 3.5 provides XML-based integration
with back-end legacy systems and automates the business processes;
Director provides an infrastructure for the rapid development of
dynamic business applications; and Workbench is an integrated
development environment that is compliant with J2EE 1.3.