4Suite^™: an open-source platform for XML and RDF processing

4Suite allows users to take advantage of standard XML technologies rapidly and to develop and integrate Web-based applications. It also puts practical technologies for knowledge management projects in the hands of developers. It is implemented in Python with C extensions.

At the core of 4Suite is a library of integrated tools (including convenient command-line tools) for XML processing, implementing open technologies such as DOM, RDF, XSLT, XInclude, XPointer, XLink, XPath, XUpdate, RELAX NG, and XML/SGML Catalogs. Layered upon this is an XML and RDF data repository and server. The server supports multiple methods of data access, query, indexing, transformation, rich linking, and rules processing. It provides the data infrastructure of a full database management system, including transactions and concurrency support, access control and a variety of management tools. For purposes of integration with other tools, it supports remote, cross-platform and cross-language access through HTTP, RPC, and FTP. It also has APIs for Python and XSLT.

The quickest path to trying out 4Suite, especially for users unfamiliar with Python, is to follow the 4Suite Installation HOWTO, which is available for UNIX and Windows users. Cygwin users, for now, please consult the Cygwin notes.

Detailed documentation about the installation directory defaults and customization options is now available here.

Once the software is installed, refer to the Quick Start document for a step-by-step introduction to the repository features of the software.

4Suite is primarily developed by Fourthought, Inc., a company that offers, among other things, priority support and customization of 4Suite.