Java WebServices vs Delphi web services

[Wendy Wise]

My boss wants me to write a new SOAP server using Delphi, while all of the other applications are in Java. I am able to create a basic server and client in about 30 minutes using the easy wizards that come with Delphi. Other than the ease of use, does anyone know why the preference is Delphi? Can anyone point me to a whitepaper about why someone prefers one over the other. Also, there are many tutorials for Delphi WS creation, does anyone know one for Java?

[Matt R. Hansen]

Wendy,
I don't see a good reason for doing this in Delphi other than a personal preference . Did your boss give a reason for this preference?
A good link for a Java Web Service tutorial is:
http://java.sun.com/webservices/docs/1.0/tutorial/

[Wendy Wise]

The reason is the same old, same old: "We currently have one written in Delphi, so we should continue"
I know Delphi can very easily create either a SOAP Server .exe or a SOAP server Service. Is there an easy Java way to do this?
I am a Java Developer with a past in Delphi, so I know that Java is a wonderful language, but it does take longer to develop in Java than Delphi, so I am assuming that is part of his reason...

[Matt R. Hansen]

If there is a current system already written in Delphi, that does make code reuse easier. If you do have a chance to use Java though, you can create an executable jar file that would work just like an exe.

[Wendy Wise]

Other than code reuse, is there an advantage to one over the other? Is a soap server a soap server no matter what language it is in? Does one offer more functionality than the other?

[Matt R. Hansen]

My personal preference would be to use Java. My opinion is biased (platform independence, etc...), but networking is usually much easier in Java than in other languages. Java also will not be going anywhere anytime soon. On the same hand, Delphi is a pretty cool language itself. And sometimes we have to compromise to make the boss happy .

[Wendy Wise]

AH HAH! The reason for Delphi is that the database is Sybase, and the ODBC driver is a better resource than the JDBC driver for Sybase. There is an upgrade to the JDBC driver, but they are unwilling to spend the money. The SOAP server resides on all the client machines for polling purposes...