This is a catalog of existing and possible services that are application-language independent or attempt to be app-language independent. The list will avoid services that are too domain-specific, although may have services commonly found among related domains. ------ Database (persistence, attribute management and processing) * Transport mechanisms: ODBC, pipes * Interface language or commands: Usually query languages such as SQL and TutorialDee * Product Examples: MySql, Oracle GUI's * ... File Systems * Transport mechanism: built into most languages, or via API's * Interface language or commands: API or language-specific * Product Examples: FAT Document Indexing * ... Report Generators * ... Printing For printing I'm wondering what the service would be. Obviously the printing dialog is not part of this as it belongs to GUI above. This still leaves the representation of the printable entity, the printing driver, the pysical transport and the printer internals. * Printable ** Transport mechanism: file ** Interface language or commands: plain ascii text (target language source) ** Product examples: PostScript, TeX (one might add PDF but there you need a specialized API the generate it) * Driver ** Transport mechanism: pipe, directory ** Interface language or commands: just pass the file to print ** Product examples: LP (*nix) * interface ---- CategoryCatalog