WSO2 WSF/C (Web Services Framework for C) Roadmap

WSO2 WSF/C is the most accomplished Web services platform for the C language currently available in the Web services arena. WSF/C framework consists of well known projects including Apache Axis2/C, Apache Rampart/C, Apache Sandesha2/C. The Web services core of WSF/C consists of Apache Axis2/C. For WSO2 WSF/C, Rampart/C offers security and Sandesha2/C offers reliability. Apache's WS-Eventing implementation referred to as Savan/C is also a part WSF/C framework. Additionally, this framework consists of WSO2 specific features such as wsclient - a feature rich command line web services client tool, an XMPP transport etc.

WSO2 WSF/C is the base for other important Web services platforms such as WSF/PHP, WSF/Ruby, WSF/Perl. WSF/PHP is already a fast adopting platform for Web services in PHP.

Currently, WSO2 WSF/C supports the following specifications:

WSO2 WSF/C distinguishes itself being the first and the only Web Services Framework in C to support this stack of WS specifications.

The support of WS-Security along with MTOM and WS-Addressing ensures that developers seeking to build business-critical applications could leverage WSO2 WSF/C for their enterprise applications. Given that the WSO2 WSF/C implementation interoperates with Microsoft WCF and WSO2 WSAS, further highlights its use in enterprise SOA implementations. WSO2 WSAS is the extremely competitive web services application server solution of WSO2 implemented in Java.

In the coming months we will continue to collaborate with the community, enhance the current set of features and improve interoperability. Following are a few hints on the future releases we've planned and areas that we intend to work on in the next few months:

Planned Releases

Releasing 1.2.1 in the near future. Work on next major release 1.3.0. This may include API changes and major refactoring changes.

WSDL Mode

WSO2 WSF/C will supports contract-first style of implementing Web services and clients. A user can simply provide a WSDL, and implement Web services and clients based on the interface specified there. WS-Addressing and WS-SecurityPolicy will be supported in WSDL mode.

Continue to enhance interoperability with Microsoft WCF and J2EE implementations

We believe that it is critical to inter-operate, i.e. to enable WSO2 WSF/C clients and WSO2 WSF/C based services working in heterogeneous environment. Interoperability testing is done not only at basic SOAP and WSDL levels but also on QoS specification implementations such as binary attachments, WS-Security signing and encryption, WS-Addressing scenarios and WS-ReliableMessaging scenarios.

Provide solutions based on WSO2 WSF/C

We will implement some enterprise grade demo samples for the benefit of users who wish to explore the benefits of WSO2 WSF/C features in an enterprise setup. This is expected to grab the most user attraction in time to come as it allows the user to experience the true power of WSO2 WSF/C using practical implementations.

WS-* support

We will be continuously adding on the number of WS-* specifications supported based on the implementations available with WSO2 WSF/C.

WSF/C Test Framework

The framework is in near completion now but still there is some work remaining to be done in adding comprehensive number of tests to the framework to ensure that there will be sufficient to test the stability of the code.

Enhanced Security

Adding support for secure conversation and trust.

Venture on new platforms

The mobile platform integration. E.g. Android , Symbian.

Enhanced Reliability

Integrating security and policy to Sandesha2/C.