XML-Java Data Binding Framework

Writing efficient, correct programs to process complex XML documents can be time-consuming and difficult. While data binding frameworks automate translating untyped, structured XML data into strongly typed data structures, their overhead, in terms of configuration during development and maintenance, and CPU at runtime, may be prohibitive. We present an open source XML-Java data binding framework to optimize the efficiency and expressive power of programmers and their applications. An annotation metalanguage embedded in Java field declarations enables fine-grained expression of the semantics of bi-directional XML-Java translation. The tight integration of information and program semantics is symbiotic, promoting software maintenance. The programmer can choose the most appropriate and efficient data structures to represent a particular dialect of XML, based on application needs. For example, collections can be automatically bound to hash tables with a single metalanguage declaration. A formal type system of translation scopes encapsulates sets of Java classes for binding XML elements. Translation scopes can be organized in correspondence with software components and composed through multiple-inheritance, maximizing reuse. The metalanguage is efficiently interpreted at runtime, avoiding preprocessors, through a parse tree of optimization structures. Performance and usability exceed that of other frameworks.