WIFLblog

February 27, 2004

The 1060 REST microkernel and XML app server. 1060 NetKernel Suhail Ahmed alerted me, via email, to a really interesting project called NetKernel, from 1060 Research. The docs describe it as "a commercial open-source realisation of the HP Dexter project." Here's the skinny:

Today's Web-servers and Application Servers have a relatively flat interface which creates a hard boundary between Web and non-Web. This boundary defines the zone of URI addressable resources.

What if the REST interface (URI address space) didn't end at the edge of your external interface?

NetKernel uses REST-like service interfaces for all software components. The services are fully encapsulated in modules which export a public URI address space. A module may import other module's address spaces, in this way service libraries may be combined into applications. [NetKernel Essentials]

What if, indeed? I downloaded the 20MB NetKernel JAR file, installed the system, and took it for a spin. Fascinating concept. As advertised, it offers a suite of XML services -- including XSLT, and the Saxon implementation of XQuery -- in a composable architecture based on URIs. These include the familiar http: and file: plus NetKernel's own active: which is a URI scheme for NetKernel processes scheduled by the "REST microkernel." ... [Jon's Radio]
12:55:18 AM