XML 1.0 – Automated Hacks

Chapter 78: Before WSDL—How 1995–1998 Web Integration Forced Enterprises to “Discover” APIs the Hard Way

From CGI endpoints to form posts and early JavaScript-driven pages, 1995–1998 web integration created “APIs” without contracts—pushing enterprises toward the later idea of discoverable, describable services like WSDL.

Chapter 77: Before SOAP—How 1995–1998 Web Scripting and CGI Set the Stage for Formal Web Service Contracts

In 1995–1998, browser scripting, HTML forms, and CGI quietly acted like early web APIs—revealing integration pain points that later drove SOAP and formal web service contracts. Chapter 77 of our chronological web API history.