[development] module with XML RPC

[Augustin (Beginner)]

Hello,

I most probably will need to create a new module that needs to handle XML 
RPCalls. 

I have no experience with XML RPC, so I'd like to ask a few general questions 
about Drupal's implementation.


If I understand well, the files includes/xmlrpc(s).inc are a fork from the 
library:
 http://scripts.incutio.com/xmlrpc/

How come the Drupal XML RPC API doesn't use any of the PHP XML RPC functions 
defined here: http://php.net/xmlrpc ?
Is this a completely different implementation?
Why?
Is there a historical/technical reason behind this?

How does a XML RPC "session" happen?
During a page load, we can use php to query the DB, get a reply from the SQL 
server, process that reply and display the page according to the reply we 
got.
Does the procedure happen remotely with XML RPC?
I.e., if I have a drupal XML RPC client module, that needs to contact a remote 
XML RPC server, do I get a chance to send the call, get the reply and process 
that reply all within one page load, as if it were a SQL query?
If not, how is the exchange of information handled. 

What modules exist that use XML RPC a lot, that I could study?

How would a simple code snippet look like? (make a call to server, get reply, 
and have a if / else fork according to the reply we got - or display / 
print_r() the content of the reply).


I saw a few handbook pages, and some issues about xml rpc, but I can't find 
any information for a total noob...

Thanks,

Augustin.




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