The gSOAP Web services development toolkit offers an XML to C/C++ language binding to ease the development of SOAP/XML Web services in C and C/C++. Most toolkits for C++ Web services adopt a SOAP-centric view and offer APIs that require the use of class libraries for SOAP-specific data structures. This often forces a user to adapt the application logic to these libraries. In contrast, gSOAP provides a transparent SOAP API through the use of proven compiler technologies. These technologies leverage strong typing to map XML schemas to C/C++ definitions. Strong typing provides a greater assurance on content validation of both WSDL schemas and SOAP/XML messages. The gSOAP compiler generates efficient XML serializers for native and user-defined C and C++ data types. As a result, SOAP/XML interoperability is achieved with a simple API relieving the user from the burden of WSDL and SOAP details, thus enabling him or her to concentrate on the application-essential logic. The compiler enables the integration of (legacy) C/C++ and Fortran codes (through a Fortran to C interface), embedded systems, and real-time software in SOAP applications that share computational resources and information with other Web services, possibly across different platforms, language environments, and disparate organizations located behind firewalls.