Help needed for java web services

[shai ban]

Hi,
I want to start java web services with JAX-RPC/JAX-WS/JAX-RS style and have idea about xml/wsdl/soap. But still have doubts in starting the implementation :
- Which soap implementation (Axis/CXF etc.) I should start with, so that I can easily adapt to other soap implementation after getting one?
- Is there any default implementation to start with instead of switching to vendor specific implementations?
- Is there any book(s) that can provide step by step information on these?

Thanks.

[Ulf Dittmer]

Don't use JAX-RPC, it's way obsolete. JAX-WS is the API to use for SOAP WS these days. JAX-RS implements RESTful WS, so you wouldn't be using that for SOAP, either.

Either Axis-2 or Metro are good choices for getting started with SOAP. There's always a certain degree of incompatibility between SOAP implementations when it comes to deployment and configuration, so switching between them isn't as easy as replacing one jar file with another one. Both should serve you well, though, so most likely there's no reason to switch later.

I'd take a good look at REST (and its reference implementation Jersey) before getting into SOAP, though. RESTful WS are easier to get started with, and more popular nowadays.

Start reading here: WebServicesFaq

[shai ban]

Ulf Dittmer wrote:Don't use JAX-RPC, it's way obsolete. JAX-WS is the API to use for SOAP WS these days. JAX-RS implements RESTful WS, so you wouldn't be using that for SOAP, either.

Either Axis-2 or Metro are good choices for getting started with SOAP. There's always a certain degree of incompatibility between SOAP implementations when it comes to deployment and configuration, so switching between them isn't as easy as replacing one jar file with another one. Both should serve you well, though, so most likely there's no reason to switch later.

I'd take a good look at REST (and its reference implementation Jersey) before getting into SOAP, though. RESTful WS are easier to get started with, and more popular nowadays.

Start reading here: WebServicesFaq

I have seen this long FAQ many times but couldn't filter it for me Could you please clarify my doubts:
- Do you really think that it (JAX-RPC) is completely obsolete? I think you need to understand its basics too for giving support to existing services. Isn't it?
- Can a JAX-WS do all the work that JAX-RPC used to do?
- Today, is Annotation only medium to implement modern web services or without it also possible?
- Are SOA and Web-Services same? If not, then what is difference?
- Please suggest some good books for Axis/Metro/Jersey implementations?


Thanks a lot.

[Ulf Dittmer]

JAX-RPC is not the basic of WS or JAX-WS. And yes, it is obsolete, period.

It is certainly possible not to use annotations when implementing WS. E.g., you could use the Axis2 API.

SOA is an architectural style, while WS works over just one particular transport (HTTP). See their respective Wikipedia pages and the WebServicesFaq for more information.