Etch (protocol)

Etch is a new open source [http://tech.slashdot.org/tech/08/05/24/0319234.shtml Cisco To Open-Source New Messaging Protocol] ] , cross-platform framework for building network services, first announced [http://www.cio.com/article/365513 Cisco Systems' New Client/Server Messaging Protocol Announced] ] in May 2008 by Cisco Systems. Etch encompasses a service description language, a compiler, and a number of language bindings. It is intended to supplement SOAP and CORBA as methods of communicating between networked pieces of software, especially where there is an emphasis on portability, transport independence, small size, and high performance. Etch is designed to be easily incorporated into existing applications and systems, enabling a natural and easy transition to a service oriented architecture. It originally was derived from work on the [http://developer.cisco.com/web/cuae/home Cisco Unified Application Environment] .

Implementations

The initial release will suppport Java and C#. A second wave of support will include Ruby, Python, Javascript, and C.

Open Sourcing and Licensing

In July 2008 Etch was released under the Apache 2.0 license [http://developer.cisco.com/web/cuae/etch What is Etch?] ] .

As part of the open source process, Etch was submitted to the Apache Incubator to be accepted as a new podling [http://wiki.apache.org/incubator/EtchProposal Proposal to accept Etch into the Apache Incubator] ] . On August 25, 2008 the formal vote was proposed [http://markmail.org/search/?q=etch%20vote%20apache%20incubator#query:etch%20vote%20apache%20incubator+page:1+mid:6fusg5jtsqbcgpr7+state:results Apache Incubator vote thread] ] and was eventually passed. Etch is now an Apache project and as of September 2008 is currently in the start-up phase within the Apache Incubator. The Apache home for Etch can be found [http://incubator.apache.org/projects/etch.html here] .

ee also

* Google's Protocol Buffers
* Facebook's Thrift

External links

* [http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns738/networking_solutions_package.html Cisco Unified Application Environment]

References