IFX is committed to maintaining backwards compatibility so that implementations are reliable even as new capabilities are added. The stated policy of IFX is that all specification changes that affect IFX messages must be fully compatible with the previous point revision level of the specification. Specification changes must not require changes by an implementation in order to continue processing at the same level of functionality within a major release level.

IFX Release Levels

The IFX Forum introduced Version 2 of the standard in 2008-09. Version 2 is the “go-forward” architecture for the IFX standard.

IFX continues to support v1.x and, within limits, adds new data elements and functionality as required by members to maintain the viability of implementations based on that architecture.

Learn More: Version 2.x  | Version 1.x | Version 2.x History  | Version 1.x History

Backwards Compatibility

The IFX Forum is committed to maintaining backwards compatibility so that implementations are reliable even as new capabilities are added. The stated policy of IFX is that all specification changes that affect IFX messages must be fully compatible with the previous point revision level of the specification. Specification changes must not require changes by an implementation in order to continue processing at the same level of functionality within a major release level.

There are two types of compatibility that we are concerned with:

• Syntactic compatibility is the consistent representation of message and data structure, i.e., formats, tag names, and element definitions between old and new levels of the specification.
• Semantic compatibility is the consistent operation of message function, i.e., behavioral consistency between old and new levels of the specification.

There are currently two major revision levels supported by IFX, commonly referred to as v1.x and v2.x. Consistent with our policy, every point release in the v1.x family from 1.1.0 – 1.9.1 is compatible with lower version releases. We are proud to have maintained that record for over 10 years.

Version 2.x is not directly compatible with version 1.x. The version 2.x framework imposes new structural constraints on IFX Objects, more readily adapts to modern SOA environments and deprecates elements that had been identified as obsolete in version 1. Version 2 is the “go-forward” architecture for the IFX standard.

IFX continues to support v1.x and, within limits, adds new data elements and functionality as required by members to maintain the viability of implementations based on that architecture.