WIDLing Away at XML

The Web Interface Definition Language, or WIDL, was recently submitted as a proposed working standard to the W3C by WebMethods. WIDL is an XML application that allows Web resources to be described as functional interfaces, which can be accessed by remote systems over standard Web protocols. Although WIDL is an XML application, it does not require Web content to be formatted in XML. Nor does it require developer expertise in HTML/XML parsing or Web protocols such as HTTP. Using WIDL, developers can create XML definitions over existing HTML content, enabling applications to interact with both new and existing Web-based resources.

WIDL is also a key component of WebMethods' new product line, which includes Web Automation Toolkit and Web Automation Server. Web Automation Toolkit 2.1, released in early December, is an integrated development, testing, and management environment for Web Automation applications. Using the Toolkit, developers can encapsulate Web data and services through a simple graphical interface. Code generators can produce Weblets in a variety of programming languages and formats, including C/C++, Java, JavaScript, ActiveX, and Visual Basic. "Weblets" are reusable Web-access components that can be readily plugged into applications for direct and managed access to Web resources.

Using the toolkit, Visual Basic developers can graphically encapsulate new and existing Web resources, then automatically generate the Visual Basic code required for their application to directly access this data.