Re: [DotGNU]Re: My Favorite soapbox : XML linkage

[Seth Johnson]

James, 

There's a third angle to all of this, which folks should
consider besides the remote application server and the
indifference of open protocols to free software.

One of the things that Microsoft did way back from the very
initial release of Windows, was to keep the full
specification of their *messages* hidden.  These days, the
antitrust people are trying to get Microsoft to open up its
APIs, but in truth the real game is at the level of the
kernel *messages.*  Microsoft can open up "sufficient" APIs,
but still not let you in on the full picture of what the
kernel is designed to do.

Microsoft is basically trying to do that same thing for the
web.  WSDL has provisions for both a closed and an open
channel -- and the messages transferred in the closed
channel are where their proprietary dominance will be played
out.

Microsoft (and others, of course) will provide interfaces,
protocol specifications, etc.; but will also try to hook
things up so people will end up depending on a proprietary
equivalent of a "web services kernel," with
not-fully-disclosed messaging.

As with Windows, people will be unable to release a *free*
"web services kernel" without fear that it will not support
all the messages that Microsoft services and clients use.

Seth Johnson

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