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Etch is a cross-platform, language- and transport-independent framework for building and consuming network services. The Etch toolset includes a network service description language, a compiler, and binding libraries for a variety of programming languages. Etch is also transport-independent, allowing for a variety of different transports to be used based on need and circumstance. The goal of Etch is to make it simple to define small, focused services that can be easily accessed, combined, and deployed in a similar manner. With Etch, service development and consumption becomes no more difficult than library development and consumption. Etch was started because we wanted to have a way to write a concise, formal description of the message exchange between a client and a server, with that message exchange supporting a hefty set of requirements: support one-way and two-way, real-time communication high performance and scalability support clients and servers written in different languages support clients/servers running in a wide range of contexts (such as thin web client, embedded device, PC application, or server) support anyone adding new language bindings and new transports be fast and small, while still being flexible enough to satisfy requirements finally, it must be easy to use for developers both implementing and/or consuming the service.

Past and present Etch contributors include (in alphabetical order) Rene Barrazza Seth Call Scott Comer James DeCocq James Dixson Michael Fitzner Holger Grandy J.D. Liau Youngjin Park Gaurav Sandhir You can contact the Etch Community at: Etch User List: etch-user@incubator.apache.org Etch Development List: etch-dev@incubator.apache.org

The main source of static information about Etch (aside of this manual) is the project website at http://incubator.apache.org/etch. Do not hesitate to post issues of any kind to the project mailing lists. Etch User List: etch-user@incubator.apache.org Etch Development List: etch-dev@incubator.apache.org Archives are available at Etch-User List Archive Etch-User List Archive