Understanding the HCL Commerce Web service framework

The goals of the HCL Commerce Web service framework are:

  • To promote structured WSDL descriptions to define the objects used for invoking the service.
  • To promote the adoption of industry-accepted standards for service definitions, such as the Open Applications Group Integration Standard (OAGIS), with the intent to achieve greater interoperability with other systems that have adopted the same standards.
  • To promote separation between client and server through publishing (that is, publicly defining) the XML schema of the data objects used when invoking the service.
  • To promote use of Web service development tools, such as HCL Commerce Developer or Rational Application Developer, for developing Web service clients that can communicate with HCL Commerce.

The following topics explain how HCL Commerce fits into the service provider and service consumer roles: