Service-Oriented Architecture: A Field Guide to Integrating XML and Web Services

Web services is the integration technology preferred by organizations implementing service-oriented architectures. I would recommend that anybody involved in application development obtain a working knowledge of these technologies, and I'm pleased to recommend Erl's book as a great place to begin.

—Tom Glover, Senior Program Manager, Web Services Standards, IBM Software Group, and Chairman of the Web Services Interoperability Organization (WS-I).

An excellent guide to building and integrating XML and Web services, providing pragmatic recommendations for applying these technologies effectively. The author tackles numerous integration challenges, identifying common mistakes and providing guidance needed to get it right the first time. A valuable resource for understanding and realizing the benefits of service-oriented architecture in the enterprise.

—David Keogh, Program Manager, Visual Studio Enterprise Tools, Microsoft.

Leading-edge IT organizations are currently exploring second generation web service technologies, but introductory material beyond technical specifications is sparse. Erl explains many of these emerging technologies in simple terms, elucidating the difficult concepts with appropriate examples, and demonstrates how they contribute to service-oriented architectures. I highly recommend this book to enterprise architects for their shelves.

—Kevin P. Davis, Ph. D., Software Architect.

Service-oriented integration with less cost and less risk

The emergence of key second-generation Web services standards has positioned service-oriented architecture (SOA) as the foremost platform for contemporary business automation solutions. The integration of SOA principles and technology is empowering organizations to build applications with unprecedented levels of flexibility, agility, and sophistication (while also allowing them to leverage existing legacy environments).

This guide will help you dramatically reduce the risk, complexity, and cost of integrating the many new concepts and technologies introduced by the SOA platform. It brings together the first comprehensive collection of field-proven strategies, guidelines, and best practices for making the transition toward the service-oriented enterprise.

Writing for architects, analysts, managers, and developers, Thomas Erl offers expert advice for making strategic decisions about both immediate and long-term integration issues. Erl addresses a broad spectrum of integration challenges, covering technical and design issues, as well as strategic planning.

• Covers crucial second-generation (WS-*) Web services standards: BPEL4WS, WS-Security, WS-Coordination, WS-Transaction, WS-Policy, WS-ReliableMessaging, and WS-Attachments
• Includes hundreds of individual integration strategies and more than 60 best practices for both XML and Web services technologies
• Includes a complete tutorial on service-oriented design principles for business and technical modeling
• Explores design issues related to a wide variety of service-oriented integration architectures that integrate XML and Web services into legacy and EAI environments
• Provides a clear roadmap for planning a long-term migration toward a standardized service-oriented enterprise

Service-oriented architecture is no longer an exclusive discipline practiced only by expensive consultants. With this book's help, you can plan, architect, and implement your own service-oriented environments-efficiently and cost-effectively.

About the Web Sites

Erl's Service-Oriented Architecture books are supported by two Web sites. http://www.soabooks.com provides a variety of content resources and http://www.soaspecs.com supplies a descriptive portal to referenced specifications.

Author's Site

Check out the supporting web sites for this book:

www.soabooks.com

www.soaspecs.com

Online Sample Chapter

Introduction to Web Services Technologies: SOA, SOAP, WSDL and UDDI

Sample Chapter(s)

Download the Sample Chapter related to this title.

Preface

My father runs a placer mine, far North in a remote part of the Yukon wilderness. Foralmost half a century, he's made his living plowing through mountains with his bulldozers,looking for gold. Due to the climate, he gets only a limited amount of time duringwhich he can actually mine. His priority, therefore, is to keep his business fullyoperational throughout this period. Any disruption results in lost revenue. Despite hisbest efforts, though, he is constantly faced with obstacles.He's had to contend with volatile, sometimes even violent environmental conditions.He's had to confront bears that roamed into his camp, looking for food. He's evenchased thieves off his land in the middle of the night. Once, the hydraulic pump on hisfront-end loader collapsed, crushing his hand. Instead of "wasting" two days to get tothe nearest hospital, he simply wrapped a diesel soaked rag around his broken fingersand kept on going.

The worst kind of problem he's ever had to face, though, is mechanical failure. If a keypiece of equipment breaks, if an engine slows or stops, or if any other part of his infrastructureseizes, his business comes to a (literally) grinding halt. It can take weeks to getnew equipment or spare parts -- a delay that can be devastating to his bottom line.When faced with these challenges in the past, he's had only himself to rely on. I askedhim once how he deals with these situations. He told me that there are very few problemsin life that can't be solved with a blowtorch and a welding rod.

I think about that "life philosophy" sometimes, when staring at the cursor, blinkinghypnotically amidst some problem displayed on my computer screen. I've always beeninvolved with new technology. It has the mystery of the unknown and the attraction ofpotential. It's also put me in more "impossible" situations than I care to remember.Although I have respect for the expertise required to produce product documentationand tutorials, I generally classify this information as "option A." It is surprising howoften option A does not work in integrated environments. But, that's what option B isfor. Option B is when I roll up my sleeves and light my own blowtorch.

This attitude is important when working on integration projects. Some integrationtasks are easy. Making two compatible pieces of software talk to each other can bestraightforward, involving a predictable development and deployment effort. Others,though, can be a nightmare. Sometimes two pieces of software aren't just "not compatible,"they seem violently opposed to each other's very existence.

The goal of this guide is to help you define your own options for whatever integrationchallenges you might be facing. I am fortunate to be writing a book about integrationstrategy at a time when the IT community has at its disposal a platform that fostersintegration and interoperability like never before.

I hope that you will find this guide not only useful, but that it will lead you to viewXML, Web services, and service-oriented principles as problem-solving tools. So that nomatter what obstacles cross your path, you will be able to use your own blowtorch tocarve out that perfect solution.

Table of Contents

Preface.


1. Introduction.

I. THE TECHNICAL LANDSCAPE.

II. INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY.

III. INTEGRATING APPLICATIONS.

IV. INTEGRATING THE ENTERPRISE.