[September 28, 1998] Allaire Corporation's WDDX "uses XML to store and exchange data across the Web using HTTP. Different languages that implement WDDX need only implement simple serialization and deserialization stubs that transform language native data objects into WDDX, and vice-versa. This process provides a universal data format that is common to dominant Web programming languages. Because it is based on XML, this data structure can be easily transferred and accessed over HTTP, though WDDX can be shared and used in any text-based environment, such as flat-files, a relational database, etc. WDDX embraces a common subset of data structures used in contemporary Web programming environments. In particular, WDDX supports the exchange of structures (a.k.a. associative arrays, data dictionaries, or hash tables), arrays, recordsets, lists, strings, date/times, and boolean values. WDDX is based on the same ISO standards as XML, ensuring international time/date, numeric and currency compatibility. WDDX also relies on dynamic expression evaluation and data introspection capabilities in languages such as JavaScript, Perl, and ColdFusion to facilitate transparency in data exchange." [from J. Allaire's White Paper]
[December 08, 1998] "Allaire Announces the Web Distributed Data Exchange (WDDX). XML-based Technology Offered in Newly Released Software Development Kit; WDDX.org Web Site Launched to Support Open-Source Technology Development." - "WDDX gives companies the power to create 'Web Syndicate Networks,' where the content and commerce assets of any Web site can be exposed as services to other Web sites. This technology will enable new types of business on the Web, and increase interoperability between varying Web application platforms."
Simeon Simeonov (Allaire Corporation) delivered a presentation on WDDX at XML '98 in the 'Core Standards and Vocabularies' Track, Wednesday, November 18, 1998. The presentation abstract: "WDDX Web Distributed Data Exchange (WDDX) is an XML vocabulary for describing complex data structures such as arrays, associative arrays, and record sets in a generic fashion so they can be moved between different application server platforms and between application servers and browsers using only HTTP. Target platforms for WDDX include ColdFusion, Active Server Pages, JavaScript and Perl."
Links:
WDDX DTD; [or, local archive copy]
Perl and WDDX - WDDX Description from Codebits
Nate Weiss's WDDX Page - WDDX Deserializer written in JavaScript
"Distributed Web Applications with WDDX." White Paper, by Jeremy Allaire. [local archive copy]
"The Emerging Distributed Web." By Jeremy Allaire. Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4.
[September 30, 1998] "Cold Fusion Extends a Friendly Hand to Web Application Developers." By Dylan Tweny ['Net Prophet']. In InfoWorld Volume 20, Issue 39 September 28, 1998), page 48. "Allaire's Jeremy Allaire (who co-founded the company with his brother J.J.) is championing WDDX, which is short for Web Distributed Data Exchange. Technically speaking, WDDX is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) vocabulary defined by a Document Type Definition (DTD) that Allaire has posted on its site. WDDX provides a data format that Jeremy Allaire hopes will become the standard for data exchanges on the Web. Simply stated, WDDX is the epoxy that programmers can use to glue data from different platforms together on the Web. Allaire is releasing WDDX translation engines for Cold Fusion (this will be part of Cold Fusion 4.0), JavaScript, and Microsoft's Component Object Model and Active Server Pages platforms. It is also working on a Perl implementation of the WDDX translator, so Web developers can connect their epoxy to their duct tape."
