The BeNOW XML API facilitates the serialization of objects to XML and the creation of objects from XML. It is lightweight, fast, flexible and very easy to use. This XML API may be useful whenever XML is used with Java.

The XML API grew out of experience with Castor XML. Castor is nice and full featured, but is slow and awkward. It required attention to mapping files and required the object model to be changed in order to support marshalling/unmarshalling (specifically, it was unable to handle private or protected fields). Eventually the frustrations became too much and the BeNOW XML project was started, with the goal of not having the bloat of Castor and thereby being quicker, more flexible and more maintainable.

DOWNLOAD
benow-xml.nightly.tar.gz - nightly successful build from cvs

REQUIREMENTS

• java 1.5
• apache ant
• log4j, benow-util, etc (included)

FEATURES
Easy to use. One line of code to serialize an object as XML to or from any one of several sources or destinations. Automatic handling of lists makes deep dumps/populates easy.

Easy to code. Transparent marshalling of java objects using java reflection means no comprimize of java object model in order to serialize to xml. Mapping is auto-generated at runtime, so there is no mapping to get out of sync with the object model.

Easy to tweak. Customizing xml output is easily done within the java objects themselves using annotations. The produced XML can be as good as if it were hand coded.

USE IT!
This nice, light API is licensed as LGPL. If you like it, consider a donation. Suggestions and comments are welcome. Support is provided, within reason. For extended customization please contact me. Enjoy!