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<chapter>
<title>Introduction</title>

<para>
QMF enhances Qpid Messaging by providing a layer of functionality that makes it easy to implement common management patterns
using messaging as the basis for communication.  QMF consists of three primary parts:
</para>

<itemizedlist>
  <listitem><para>
A protocol definition defines conventions for the use of message addresses, message headers, and structured message bodies.
  </para></listitem>

  <listitem><para>
A core QMF engine provides a C++ API and an implementation of a set of protocol handlers for QMF message communication.
  </para></listitem>

  <listitem><para>
Bindings are provided that wrap the C++ API for use in other languages such as Python, Ruby, and .NET.
  </para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>

</chapter>