This guide explains what XML is, how it's used, and where it fits into the world of Web services. Here you will find XML articles, tutorials, examples, tips, tools, white papers, expert advice and more to increase your XML knowledge and understanding. XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a flexible way to create common information formats and then consistenly share both the format and the data on the WWW, intranets, and elsewhere. Using a standard way of describing data, as XML allows, enables users to send an intelligent agent (a program) to a target, such as a web site, gather data, make a comparison of the data, and then send back results to the user.. 

XML Learning Guide

Table of Contents
   XML Quick Start
   XML Articles
   XML White Papers
   XML Chapter Downloads
   XML Tutorials & Code Examples
   Developer Tools and Downloads
   Industry Quotes about XML
   Q&A with XML Experts
   Products using XML
   Online XML Resources
   XML Specs
   More Learning Guides

XML Quick Start

• Glossary Definition: XML (SearchWebServices.com, powered by Whatis.com
  
• Best Web Links: XML (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• XML Developer Tips (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• XML basics quick start (ZVON.org)
  
• XML Tutorial (W3Schools)
  
• What is XML? (l. c. rees)
  
• Kickstart XML Tutorial (Spiderpro)
  

XML Articles

• Browse this collection of editor-selected XML articles bookmarked from around the Web. (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Article: Thinking XML: The commons of creativity (Uche Ogbuji, IBM developerWorks)
  
• Commentary: Whatever happened to XML schemas? (Ronald Schmelzer, ZapThink LLC)
  
• Article: Making XML useful to ordinary mortals. (Ed Tittel, SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Article: XML and security. (Ed Tittel, SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Article: What's up with XForms. (Ed Tittel, SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Article: XML an increasingly valuable skill, experts say. (Michelle Graziose Webb, SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Article: XML helps standardize information for sharing. (Johanna Ambrosio, SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Article: An inside look at how XML works. (Preston Gralla, SearchWebServices.com)
  

XML White Papers

• Courier Messaging: An XML solution to the Web services network traffic problem (Kimanzi Mati)
  
• An introduction to XML pipelines (Orbeon)
  
• Transforming unstructured content into XML (Rizwan Virk)
  
• Code fast, run fast with XML data binding (Eric Armstrong)
  
• Understanding ebXML, UDDI and XML/edi. (XMLGlobal)
  
• Applications of XML and customizable components in building virtual places on the Web (Lukasz Beca)
  
• A new revolution on the horizon (Sterling Commerce)
  

XML Chapter Downloads

• XML linking language (Addison-Wesley)
• The structure of documents and schemas (Addison-Wesley)
• Integrating XQuery and relational database systems (Addison-Wesley)
• XML syntax and parsing concepts (Addison-Wesley)
• XPath 1.0 (Addison-Wesley)
• How to start topic mapping right away with the XTM specification (Addison-Wesley)
• Designing and managing an XML warehouse (Addison-Wesley)

XML Tutorials and Code Examples

• Browse this collection of editor-selected XML tutorials bookmarked from around the Web. (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Browse this collection of editor-selected XML examples bookmarked from around the Web. (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Tutorial: XML. (XMLFiles.com)
  
• Tutorial: XML Tutorial. (Microsoft)
  
• XML Articles and Tutorials. (WDVL)
  
• Tutorial: Introduction to XML. (Digital Web Magazine)
  
• Tutorial: The top 10 pointers to XML information online. (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Tutorial: Untangling Unicode encoding in XML. (SearchWebServices.com)
  

Developer Tools and Downloads

• Check out this free XML editor (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• Free XML tools and software (Lars Marius Garshol)
  
• XML Resources (James Clark)
  
• The World of XML Tools (IC Online)
  
• Apache XML Project (Apache)
  
• XML tools (WebReference.com)
  
• XML Document Tools
  
• XMLwriter XML Editor v2.4 (Wattle Software)
  

Industry Quotes about XML

• Rose O'Donnell, vice president of engineering, Bowstreet Inc.: "[XML] is ultimately what will equate to less pain, or less churn in the way businesses communicate with partners and customers"
• Douglas Barry, founder and principal, Barry & Associates: "It's a market that's all over the place. Every week there are new products that become available."
• IT-Director.com: "Arguably, XML is already as viable as you can need. But clearly there's more to come."
• Peter Abrahams, Analyst, Bloor Research: "The technical cost of entry into the [integration] market has gone down with the advent of standards such as XML, Web services and BPEL."
• Peter Abrahams, Analyst, Bloor Research: "[XML] is now having more impact than SQL that has been around for25 years."

Expert Advice from XML Experts

• Is it necessary for Web developers to know XML?
  
• What is XML indexing?
  
• Why is XML better for e-commerce than HTML?
  
• I'm using IE 6. Why isn't my XML displaying properly?
  
• How do XML schema validators work?
  
• Standards for securing XML messages/documents
  
• The merits of XML-based programming languages, such as Water
  
• Got questions about XML? Pose your own question to our XML expert: Sean McGrath.

XML Products

• Browse this collection of XML products in our Product & Vendor SolutionCenter. (SearchWebServices.com)
  
• XML.com Buyer's Guide (O'Reilly)
  
• XML Software Guide (WDVL)
  
• Review: Adobe develops a new intelligent document architecture (Document Management)
  
• Review: eXcelon Business Process Manager (XML Database)
  
• Review: The Ipedo XML Database (XML Database)
  
• Review: XML Instance 1.1 (XML Editing)
  
• Review: Xselerator XML Editor/Debugger (XML Editing)
  
• Review: XCompress (XML Compression)

Online Resources for XML

• Cafe con Leche XML News and Resources
  
• ZVON: The Guide to the XML Galaxy
  
• XML.com
  
• W3C.org: XML
  
• XML.org
  
• The XML FAQ
  
• XML CoverPages
  
• DevX
  
• MSDN XML Developer Center
  
• IBM developerWorks: XML

XML Specifications

• Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0 Specification (W3C)
  
• Resource Description Framework (RDF) Model and Syntax Specification (W3C)
  
• Namespaces in XML (W3C)
  
• Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification (W3C)
  
• XHTML 1.0: The Extensible HyperText Markup Language: A Reformulation of HTML 4.0 in XML 1.0 (W3C)
  
• Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL), Version 1.0 (W3C)
  
• XML Linking Language (XLink) (W3C)
  
• XML Pointer Language (XPointer) (W3C)
  
• XML-RPC (UserLand Software)

Securing XML is an essential element in keeping Web services secure. This XML Security Learning Guide is a compilation of resources that review different types of XML security standards and approaches for keeping your XML Web services secure. 

XML Security Learning Guide

Table of Contents     XML Security Key Terms and Definitions     Introduction to XML Security     OASIS     WS-Security     SAML     XML Signatures & Encryption     XML Firewalls

XML Security Key Terms and Definitions

• Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• Authentication (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• Authorization (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• Digital signature (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)(SearchWebservices.com Glossary
• Algorithm (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• Extensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML) (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) (SearchWebservices.com Glossary
• Encryption (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• WS-Security (SearchWebservices.com Glossary
• Firewall (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• Single signon (SearchSecurity.com Glossary
• Public key infrastructure (PKI) (SearchSecurity.com Glossary

Introduction to XML Security

• Article: XML complexity introduces security risks (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Web services require new approach to security (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Sorting out the Web services security landscape (SearchSecurity.com)
• Conference presentation: How to Overcome Web Services Security Obstacles (Information Security Decisions 2005
• Quiz: Infosec Know IT All Trivia: Securing Web services (SearchSecurity.com)
• Advice: Confused about differences in Web services security technology (SearchSecurity.com)
• Webcast: Web Services Security School, Lesson 1: Why Web services need security and trust (SearchWebServices.com)

OASIS

• Advice: National standards, security bodies release security checklists spec (SearchWebServices.com)
• Article: OASIS ratifies core security spec (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Latest Web services spec tackles application flaws (SearchSecurity.com)
• Advice: How will the battle between W3C and OASIS affect Web service security standards? (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Study shows companies still lukewarm (for now) on Web services (SearchSecurity.com)

WS-Security

• Web resource: Fast facts: WS-Security (SearchWebServices.com)
• Q&A: Standards expert: WS-Security changing Web services landscape (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Implementing WS-Security (SearchWebServices.com)
• Advice: What security concerns does WS-Security address? (SearchSecurity.com)
• Advice: Are there other projects for Web services security in the works beside WS-Security? (SearchSecurity.com)
• Advice: How will WS-Security impact Web services deployments? (SearchWebServices.com)
• Advice: A few questions regarding XML security (SearchWebServices.com)

SAML

• Advice: How SAML works (SearchWebServices.com)
• Article: Young SAML must conquer business pressures (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: SAML 2.0 unifies support for federation (SearchWebServices.com)
• Article: SAML ratification enables vendor interoperability (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Federal agency demonstrates SAML interoperability (SearchWebServices.com)
• Webcast: Web Services Security School, Lesson 4: SAML (SearchWebServices.com)
• Advice: Are SAML and WS-Security competitive specifications for Web services security? (SearchSecurity.com)

XML Signatures & Encryption

• Article: Securing Web services requires out-of-box thinking (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Web services pose identity management challenges (SearchWebServices.com)
• Q&A: The pros and cons of securing Web services with SSL (SearchSecurity)
• Article: Report recommends standalone XML security appliances (SearchWebServices.com)
• Web resource: A how-to guide for supporting digital signatures within SOAP messages (SearchWebServices.com)
• Advice: Determining from WSDL if a Web service supports XML signature (SearchSecurity.com)
• Advice: Confused about differences in Web services security technology (SearchSecurity.com)
• Advice: Support for XML signature/encryption (SearchWebServices.com)
• Advice: What implementation(s) of XML encryption and XML signature would you recommend? (SearchWebServices.com)
• Webcast: Web Services Security School, Lesson 3: XML Signature and XML Encryption for Web services (SearchWebServices.com)

XML Firewalls

• Advice: Securing Web services: A job for the XML firewall (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: XML firewalls dig deeper than traditional firewalls (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Web application, XML firewalls converge in one appliance (SearchWebServices.com)
• Article: Web services security vendors focus on access control, XML firewalls (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: New XML firewall keeps watch on Web services (SearchWebServices.com)
• Article: Various flavors of firewalls are evolving (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: XML firewall integrates crypto hardware (SearchSecurity.com)
• Article: Westbridge exec: When XML is a factor, standard firewalls don't cut it (SearchSecurity.com)
• Web resource: Featured Topic: XML firewalls (SearchWebServices.com)

This SearchWebServices.com guide introduces you to Web Services Security -- highlighting the inherent challenges of securing Web services while providing you with strategies to overcome these challenges. You'll find articles, tips, white papers, expert advice and more to arm yourself against would-be invaders.

Fast Guide to Web Services Security

Table of Contents     Web services security standards     Web services security challenges     Web services security strategies   Web services security standards Glossary Definition: WS-Security (SearchWebServices.com, powered by Whatis.com Glossary Definition: SAML (SearchWebServices.com, powered by Whatis.com Glossary Definition: XACML (SearchWebServices.com, powered by Whatis.com Featured Topic: Fast facts: WS-Security WS-Security enables Web services to be deployed across firewalls to reach business partners, suppliers and customers. Here we've pulled together tips, expert advice, articles and the lastest news to help build your confidence using this standard. Article: OASIS ratifies core security spec Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), which standardizes the interfaces used to disseminate public alerts and warnings, is ratified by OASIS as a standard. Article: Second-generation XML security preview: SAML A preview of XML's next-generation security language. Advice: What security concerns does WS-Security address? Advice:Are there other projects for Web services security in the works beside WS-Security? Advice: Confused about differences in Web services security technology Advice: Impact of the W3C vs. OASIS battle on Web services security standards Advice: Are SAML and WS-Security competitive specifications for Web services security? Advice: Why can't I just use SSL to protect my Web services? Advice: Web services standards and management Standards Organization: OASIS.org OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) is a not-for-profit, international consortium that drives the development, convergence, and adoption of e-business standards. XWSS.org: Web services security forum This forum is designed to offer security professionals, application developers, product managers, system auditors and IT operations staff a way to exchange ideas and share information about XML Web Services and security issues. MSDN Library: WS-Security Specification Index Page White paper: Chapter of the Week: Web Services Security -- Chapter 9, 'WS-Security' Browse this editor-selected collection of resources covering standards and protocols.   Web services security challenges Article: Web Enterprise apps may pose Web services security problem Just when you thought your SAP, PeopleSoft and Oracle apps were safe, Gartner said that opening their built-in Web services interfaces may open some unknown security holes. Article: Best practices for secure code A look at some of the dangers of insecure code and a few best practices for writing more secure code. Article: Web services pose identity management challenges Identity management is a growing challenge for Web services, but experts say a combination of good policies and cutting-edge security technology might be the best answer. Advice: Assessing security of Web services, part one Advice: Assessing security of Web services, part two Advice: Securing Web services: A job for the XML firewall Webcast: The challenges of Web services security inside the firewall When traditional security is not enough inside the firewall, where do you turn? Find out if you should implement special precautions to your current security mechanisms from this webcast. White paper: Chapter of the Week: Web Services Security -- Chapter 3, 'New challenges and new threats' White paper: A Guide to Securing XML and Web Services Browse this editor-selected collection of resources covering the ins and outs of Web services security.   Web services security strategies Article: Secure Web services a sound business practice Experts identify the nuances of securing Web services, and there's more to it than antivirus software and a solid firewall. Article: Securing Web services requires out-of-box thinking XML Web services have introduced an open, standards-based way of doing business, and traditional network security efforts aren't enough to keep things safe. Article: Report recommends standalone XML security appliances A Forrester Research report delves into the immature XML security gateway market and makes a few recommendations to help enterprises with their buying decisions. Article: Security hodge-podge used in Web services projects More than half of the companies participating in a recent security survey said they have yet to deploy Web services beyond the firewall because of security concerns. Also, nearly all of those with Web services projects said they are using multiple standards in building their Web services security architectures. Advice: Web services security strategy Advice: The major Web services security vendors Advice: Aren't Web services limited to executing services through the server interface? Advice: Middle tier Web services Advice: Are there any Web services security problems that can't be solved today? White paper: Requirements for securing Enterprise Web Services

The Shadow Fox Network provides quality articles and tutorials covering php, xhtml, css, xml, rss, javascript, and ruby on rails, along with tutorials on being a webmaster. These will help you make a better and more attractive web site. This link is to my blog post on Intelligentedu.com which contains all of the tutorials provided by this site.

Web Development Tutorials from the Shadow Fox Network

Here are what I am judging to be the best free training and tutorial sites at digg.com for the last month or so. I have compiled these here so you can see the type of content that we esteem to be valuable here at intelligentedu.com. These cover a variety of subjects and areas, including web development, Ajax, Javascript, CSS, PHP, Firefox extensions, C#, MySQL, Rails, Ruby on  Rails, and free programming books.

Top 20 Training and Tutorials Sites on Digg.com for last month

• 15 Exercises for Learning a new Programming Language
• AJAX Feedback Mechanism
• PHP - Top Ten Security Vulnerabilities
• Converting Windows executables to Mac OS X or Linux binaries
• How to Write FireFox Extensions
• Compilr - Compile C, C#, VB, and Fortran programs online
• 5 Worthy CSS Tips
• Learn How to Create a Keygen
• Configuring Rails Environments: The Cheat Sheet
• Password hashing using PHP and MySQL
• The Windows XP Command Line, Batch Files, and Scripting
• 100+ powerpoint presentations on improving your PHP skills
• What's The Secret Sauce in Ruby on Rails?
• Build RSS reader using AJAX and PHP
• Learn CSS
• Simple JavaScript Debugging
• Cut through AJAX hype
• C# FAQ for C++ programmers
• Collection of AJAX Tutorials
• 195 Free Online Programming Books