OpenSAML user discussion

[Chad La Joie <>]

Many people, in various circles, have probably heard that design work 
has begun on OpenSAML 2.0, the OpenSAML implementation that will support 
SAML 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0.  We are nearing the completion of the first 
round of this work and can now provide some details about the new library.

First, JDK 1.3 support will be dropped.  Sun has had this JDK in an end 
of life state for over a year now and it will be officially unsupported, 
for everyone, in March, 2006.  All existing web application containers 
have supported JDK 1.4 for at least two major releases (either out of 
the box or as an upgrade), many now support JDK 1.5.

Second, the Java code will be written using JDK 1.5 language features 
(such as generics and foreach loops).  We will be using an opensource 
product known as Retroweaver (http://retroweaver.sourceforge.net) to 
allow the code to run on JDK 1.4.  This product allows us to use 1.5 
features, but not 1.5 classes, so you won't see us using those.

Lastly, there will be API changes to the current classes.  We'll be 
doing this to bring the SAML 1.X support in to line with the new design. 
 This new design will hopefully make some things cleaner and allow 
programmers to more easily extend or replace very pieces of the 
implementation.

So, all that said, the most immediate impact is going to be on the CVS 
repository.  In a week or two I will begin checking in new code, in the 
java directory, in to the project trunk.  Once this starts the trunk 
will become unstable and in a significant state of flux.  Scott will 
follow shortly after with changes to the C/C++ code.  Our intention is 
to keep the code bases similar, for ease of support, but where a 
particular language offers a unique feature (such as multiple 
inheritance with C++) that makes development or use of the library some 
degree easier, we will use it.

If you have questions or comments related to the information in this 
email, or about whether the new library will support some given feature 
of SAML X.Y, feel free to let them fly now.  I will not be answering 
questions about the new design at this time, however.  My goal is to 
check in enough stuff in the first round so that with the code, and an 
additional document, people will be able to fully understand the new 
design.  Once that is available I'll take comments and questions on it.
--
Chad La Joie             315Q St. Mary's Hall
Project Sentinel         202.687.0124