The Incutio XML-RPC Library for PHP

IXR Manual | Download the Library | Example Web Services

Version 1.6, Simon Willison May 25th 2003

The Incutio XML-RPC library (IXR) is designed primarily for ease of use. It incorporates both client and server classes, and is designed to hide as much of the workings of XML-RPC from the user as possible. A key feature of the library is automatic type conversion from PHP types to XML-RPC types and vice versa. This should enable developers to write web services with very little knowledge of the underlying XML-RPC standard.

Don't however be fooled by it's simple surface. The library includes a wide variety of additional XML-RPC specifications and has all of the features required for serious web service implementations.

Features

• A complete implementation of the XML-RPC specification
• Written for PHP 4 in strict error reporting mode - no warnings or notices
• Basic classes are designed to be usable in as little code as possible
• Advanced classes extend the basic classes and provide additional features
• Can be used with both Object Orientated and functional programming styles
• Type conversions (PHP to XML-RPC and back again) are handled transparently
• Built in support for system.getCapabilities
• Built in support for system.listMethods
• system.methodSignature and system.methodHelp are supported in an extension class
• system.multicall is implemented in both the server and extended client classes
• Follows the Specification for Fault Code Interoperability

Documentation

The first draught of the manual can be found here. A brief beginner's guide is also available. Please send feedback on the manual to simon at incutio dot com

Download

You can download the library here: IXR_Library.inc.php.txt - 27.4 KB

License

This library is made available under the terms of the Artistic License.

History

• Version 1.6 (current), 26th May 2003 - minor bug fixes
• Version 1.5, September 4th 2002

Demonstrations

We have set up two web services to demonstrate IXR's capabilities - XML-RPC interfaces to FOLDOC and the Jargon File, two popular freely available online dictionaries. Details can be found on our Example Web Services page.

XML-RPC Links

• The XML-RPC Home Page
• The XML-RPC Specification
• The XML-RPC Validator

Alternative PHP Implementations

PHP developers are spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting an XML-RPC library. Here are some of the other libraries available:

• UsefulInc XML-RPC client and server
• Keith Devens' XML-RPC Client/Server
• xmlrpc-epi-php C module
• XML-RPC.com Implementations List