Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Programming Interfaces

> ## Sockets

> The 4GL provides direct access to TCP/IP sockets, both unsecured sockets and secured sockets using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Sockets provide a means to implement interprocess communications with both local and remote processes. Using 4GL sockets, you can communicate with non-4GL processes, as well as other 4GL processes. Thus, you can implement socket-based applications completely in the 4GL that otherwise require the use of C modules accessible only through the HLC or shared library interfaces.

> This chapter describes how you can access TCP/IP sockets directly from the 4GL. It assumes that you are familiar with basic TCP/IP socket programming and SSL.

> Note: SSL incurs heavy performance penalties, depending on the client, server, and network resources and load. For more information, see OpenEdge Getting Started: Core Business Services .

> This chapter contains the following sections:

> - 4GL for programming sockets

> - Overview of tasks to implement 4GL sockets

> - Implementing a 4GL socket server

> - Implementing a 4GL socket client

> - Read, writing, and managing sockets on clients and servers

> - Implementing 4GL socket security

> - Examples using 4GL sockets

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