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by Thomas Erl
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XML Best Practices
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| Integrating XML into the |
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Many organizations underestimate the impact of introducing XML into an established IT environment. Since XML touches many layers within data and application environments, uncontrolled use of XML and its related technologies can lead to a variety of problems, most surrounding the issue of standardization.
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This paper provides a brief summary of ten recommended best practices, several of which are discussed in more detail in other papers on this site.
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Target your Data |
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Identify bodies of corporate data that would most benefit from the use of XML in the short and long term, as well as those that would not.
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Assess the Technical Impact |
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Review your existing technical infrastructure to assess cost, effort and risk of incorporating XML and related technologies. An example of one such review is the evaluation of data repositories in order to assess any required XML import/export capabilities.
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Cover all Bases |
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Develop an XML maintenance strategy which defines both required modifications to existing maintenance processes, as well as the need for any new maintenance processes resulting from the incorporation of XML and related technologies and products. In addition to the definition of the processes themselves, estimated effort and costs need to be covered, including any anticipated expansion to the existing technical infrastructure.
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Plan for Standardization |
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Define a process to govern the design and evolution of standard corporate schemas and related vocabularies and domains/namespaces.
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Assign Ownership of Standards |
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Create a tactical strategy for the allocation of one or more “XML Data Custodians” who will control the development of schema information and perhaps correlate it with existing data modeling standards and data models. These custodians may also need to define schema related standards, such as naming conventions and any data related business logic and rules.
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Training and Mentoring |
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Understand the adaptation requirements of existing roles within your organization, to overcome learning curves in order to incorporate new responsibilities related to XML and associated technologies and products.
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Define New Roles and Responsibilities |
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Identify potential new roles or positions within your organization in order to fill expertise gaps, or to compensate for increased workload during transition phases where existing platforms may need to be maintained during the implementation of a revised XML-based platform.
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Evaluate and Decide on a Toolset |
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Identify and evaluate XML modeling and editing tools, including research into any available product add-ons, or complimentary products to tools already in use by your IT department, as well as new tools and/or product platforms.
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Plan for Maintenance |
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Identify and evaluate supplemental technologies (based on or relating to XML) valuable enough to also be considered for standardized adoption, plus a subsequent analysis of any corresponding organizational impact for each chosen technology.
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Consider an Established Approach |
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Learn from others who've already been there. Use a customizable standards-based integration strategy, such as the Layered Scope Model.
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SOA: Principles
of Service Design
by Thomas Erl
An in-depth guide dedicated to service engineering with a thorough exploration of the design principles that comprise the service-orientation design paradigm (including a comparison with object-orientation).
Service-Oriented Architecture:
Concepts, Technology, and Design
by Thomas Erl
The first "how-to" guide to building SOA, providing coverage of WS-* specifications, .NET and J2EE platforms, and step-by-step processes for service-oriented analysis and design.
Service-Oriented Architecture:
A Field Guide
to Integrating
XML and Web Services
by Thomas Erl
The best-selling guide to service-oriented integration, providing hundreds of integration strategies and over sixty best practices.
For more information about either book, visit: www.soabooks.com
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About SOA Systems
SOA Systems Inc. provides strategic SOA consulting services and offers a comprehensive SOA training program.
For more information see:
• www.soasystems.com
• www.soatraining.com
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