Welcome to the developerWorks XML zone! Find out why it's a destination for developers seeking answers.

Mergers. Marketing partnerships. e-commerce. Legacy data for the Web. Electronic reporting and regulatory compliance. Intranet publishing. With all these concerns, it's no wonder that more and more developers are trying to find out whether XML can solve their data-exchange problems.

That's where the developerWorks XML zone comes into play. The zone offers information, online training, resources, and tools for developers exploring XML.

Start at the beginning: If you're absolutely new to XML, start with our original "Introduction to XML" tutorial, and in 45 minutes you'll be up to speed on the topic. (In 10 minutes you'll be able to explain to your cubicle buddies what XML is.) You can move on to more specific tutorials when you're ready, such as the "XML programming in Java" tutorial.

Find out how put XML to work: Through articles and demonstration projects, experts on the dW team and other experienced developers show how to use XML in your work.

Uncover tools you can use: Find development tools to speed your work with XML. We're dedicated to providing the best tools available for XML development, from unique tools culled from IBM labs to open-source tools from other sources. Our fast xcentral search engine also helps turn up valuable resources -- within IBM or anywhere on the Web -- to support your work with XML.

Answer your XML questions: Ask the XML experts at the dW XML zone when you need help solving an XML development problem. We review your questions, put them to XML experts inside and outside IBM, and post the responses.

Keep up with the standards: In the ferment of emerging technology, it's hard to keep track of the myriad proposed specifications for standards related to XML. The zone helps make sense of the alphabet soup: we keep the Standards watch updated each month. And we're publishing a series of articles that explains what each of the emerging standards has to offer (starting with The XML Schema standard). So you can see where the components of XML are likely to be headed, and you can find out when you may need to put in your 2 cents' worth to help shape a draft specification.

Share the wealth: developerWorks functions as a platform for sharing what you learn and develop with others. Whether it's code, a tip, an insight, or a detailed technique, we'll help you share it with other developers. And we'll reward you for effort, as well.

Tell us what you want: We're here to serve. Find your way around the zone with the developerWorks site map. Let us know if you have a problem with XML that we're not addressing.

Come back often: The XML zone will deepen and grow as you develop your XML skills. Keep coming back.

Chris Rumble and Nancy Dunn
cjrumble@us.ibm.com and nancydunn@aol.com
developerWorks XML zone