BizTalk.org and XML.org

[Didier PH Martin]

Hi Dan,

Objectively and from observations made on their site:

a) xml.org claim to be a repository for reference documents like schemas,
dtd, etc... but do not claim to be specialized for B2B exchange. The
positioning seems more general purpose.
b) Biztalk includes Microsoft specifications about B2B or general
application exchange formats. Two documents provide details on this.

So Dan, it seems that the difference is not technical but more a question of
positioning.

But to fully understand what's behind of biztalk, go to Microsoft site and
search for biztalk server. It seems that the biztalk framework is the
biztalk server language. However, to be useful, this server needs some
support from ERP providers and big customers.

I won't comment if that is good or not but it seems that Microsoft choose
XML as an application exchange format. This format competes in a certain way
DCOM or CORBA middleware formats.

Conclusion:
OASIS xml.org seems more general purpose (the position may change in the
future). It could include XML_EDI but nothing is explicitly stated in that
sense. Actually only companies announcement are posted on it.
Microsoft biztalk.org make a proposal for a new XML format or transaction
envelope with workflow or routing information. It seems that the routing
information is targeted to intra corporation processing probably fitted to
the biztalk server.
What is dangerous there is that the biztalk server will probably be the
first to process biztalk messages. The other point is that we don't know the
cost of the biztalk server. If this free and included in the platform, this
is bad news for competitors if this format is a de facto standard. So, very
dangerous for the ISVs.

Sorry if the analysis is not technical but these two site do not promote so
much technology as they take some position on the market.

regards


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xml-dev at ic.ac.uk [mailto:owner-xml-dev at ic.ac.uk]On Behalf Of
Dan Brickley
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 5:39 PM
To: 'xml-dev at ic.ac.uk'
Subject: BizTalk.org and XML.org




This (below) article just appeared on CNet. Politics and half-finished
web sites aside, I'd be interested to hear if anyone could outline how
these two approaches differ technically. I don't so much mean
DTDs-versus-XYZSchema-format, but in the architectural approach they're
taking. Are these to be community forums  of machine-queryable
repositories or some combination of both? Do BizTalk.org and XML.org
differ in any technical rather than political way? It's hard to tell
from the web sites...

Dan


	Taking sides on XML

	Microsoft's attempt to jump-start adoption of the Extensible
	Markup Language (XML) has drawn battle lines in the rapidly
	evolving market, in some ways reminiscent of the industry split
	over the Java programming language.
	http://www.news.com/News/Item/0%2C4%2C37072%2C00.html?dd.ne.txt.0526.09

excerpt...

On one side is Microsoft's BizTalk initiative and its BizTalk.org Web
site, established this week as an XML design clearing house, developer
resource, and repository for XML schemas.

Microsoft has lined up an impressive list of BizTalk backers, including
most of the major enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
makers--except Oracle-- e-commerce software and service providers like
Ariba, and big-name technology consumers, such as Boeing.

On the other side is XML.org, an XML developer portal launched this week
by Oasis, a nonprofit consortium. Oasis, which has been building its
portal for a year, has been endorsed by virtually all other big-name
software makers, including IBM, Sun Microsystems, Novell, and Oracle.




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