Web services: from hype to real-world applications
We've all heard the hype around Web services: * "You will never have to maintain an application ever again"; * "Allow your application to work, even if some parts of it are offline"; * "Speak to any other computer system"; * "Keep all your data secure"; and * "Cure dandruff".
OK, I am kidding about the last one, but Web services have been sold as the cure to every development problem.
Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet solution. So let's try to understand what a Web service is and how it can help your systems communicate more effectively. I will try to describe what Web services are, followed by some situations where I have used Web services in architectural efforts.
What is a Web service? It is a block of application logic (think of getting a stock price quote or performing a forex trade) that is accessible through the Internet in a standard way.
