Sun Microsystems has released an Early Access 1 implementation of its Java API for XML Parsing specification.

This distribution is based on Sun's ProjectX XML parser, though any JAXP-compliant parser can be used. JAXP requires Java 1.1 or higher.

The JAXP specification is being developed through Sun's Java Community Process (JCP), with participants including Allaire, Ariba, BEA/Web Logic, Bluestone Software, AOL/Netscape, Extensibility, Fujitsu, IBM, Object Design, Oracle, webMethods and Sun Microsystems. While JAXP builds on the Simple API for XML (SAX) and the W3C's Document Object Model (DOM) , the JCP lacks the complete openness of the SAX development process or the vendor- independence of W3C process. Comments on the specification itself may be sent to xml-spec-comments@eng.sun.com