Open source middleware company WSO2 has released the WSO2 Web Services Framework for PHP (WSF/PHP), a binding of WSF/C into PHP. WSO2 has also simultaneously released the WSO2 Web Services Framework for C, which provides the basic framework on which other scripting language bindings can be built to provide and consume Web services in those languages. The first to be available is the WSO2 Web Services Framework for PHP (WSF/PHP), a binding of WSF/C into PHP. (See the WSO2 WSF/PHP press release also dated August 22, 2007 for more information.)

The WSO2 Web Services Framework for C is a comprehensive, enterprise-grade open source library that allows building robust, secure, reliable Web services in C. It supports the widest range of Web services (WS*-) specification implementations, it features a “wsclient” command-line tool that enables developers to use WSF/C for consuming Web services. WSO2 WSF/C 1.0 is released under Apache License 2.0 and is based on the family of Apache open source projects, including Apache Axis2/C, Apache Rampart/C, Apache Sandesha2/C, and Apache Savan/C.

Its makers say that WSF/PHP 1.0 is the only extension to the popular PHP scripting language that supports the full Web services (WS*-) stack, whcih will help developers bring to PHP security and reliable messaging that are required for trusted, enterprise-class SOAP-based Web services. It also supports the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) on both the client and server side, as well as backward compatibility with the PHP5 SOAP extension.

“PHP is one of the world’s most widely used scripting languages for creating interactive Web applications, but its broader adoption hinges on the ability to support the enterprise functionality required for business-critical Web services,” said Sanjiva Weerawarana, CEO of WSO2. “With WSF/PHP 1.0, we extend our commitment to enabling a heterogeneous world of Web services by providing organizations with a trusted platform for integrating PHP into their service-oriented architectures.”

The WSO2 Web Services Framework for PHP supports basic Web services standards, including SOAP 1.1, SOAP 1.2, WSDL 1.1 and WSDL 2.0. It is fully tested and provides proven interoperability with Microsoft .NET, the Apache Axis2/Java-based WSO2 Web Services Application Server (WSAS), and other J2EE implementations. Key features of WSF/PHP 1.0 are:

* Full support for the WS*- stack includes WS-Addressing, WS-Security, WS-SecurityPolicy, WS-Reliable Messaging, and SOAP Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism (MTOM).
* Secure Web services are enabled by advanced WS*-Security features, such as encryption and signing of SOAP messages. Users also can send messages with UsernameToken and TimeStamp support.
* Reliable messaging for Web services and clients means basic SOAP messages, as well as messages with attachments can be sent in a reliable way.
* Backward compatibility with PHP5 lets developers use their existing code as is within the WSF/PHP.
* WSDL generation lets developers generate WSDL for PHP service scripts (serving WSDL 1.1 or WSDL 2.0).
* WSDL mode supports a contract-first style of implementing Web services. A user can simply provide a WSDL and implement Web services and clients based on the interface given in the WSDL.
* Attachments with Web services and clients take two forms. Users can send and receive attachments with SOAP messages in optimized formats and non-optimized formats with MTOM support.
* REST support lets a single service be exposed both as a SOAP-style and as a REST-style service. The client API also supports invoking REST services using HTTP GET and POST methods.

“The future of service-oriented architectures is one that will bring together Web services formed with a range of widely used languages – from Java to C to popular scripting languages, such as PHP, Perl and Ruby,” said Sanjiva Weerawarana, CEO of WSO2. “Our WSF/C represents a significant milestone in fostering this heterogeneity, streamlining the development of enterprise-class Web services, not only in C, but also an ever widening array of Web development language options.”