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

Web Programming

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Concepts, Technology, and Design

Format: Hardcover
Author: Thomas Erl
ReleaseDate: 02 August, 2005
Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR
Rating:

NOT JUST A FAT BOOK!
I do not think that the book is JUST a fat book, yet I believe that this book deals with topics that have been resolved many years ago in computer science and they are not necessarily SOA specific. The lady that claimed that the book is just a fat book probably overstated the issue. Yes, she's right! There is lack of creativity, and the author took a ride on the confusion that the entire industry has about SOA and its misunderstood definition. Unfortunately, the book presented ideas are somewhat archaic and they pool us backwards in time rather than presenting a visionary approach. That's why I have a hard time believing that the book is currently useful - maybe 10 years ago it could have been an OK book. Also that weigh argument is irrelevant to our discussion. I'd rather see a vision or a structure to a book so I can enjoy reading it and making use of it. In this case I'm convinced the book is not as useful as it could have been. Also it adds to the market confusion.

Excellent from concept to implementation of SOA
Web Services consists of a plethora of standards including WS-*, WS-Policy, WS-MetaData, WS-BPEL etc. This is an excellent book to learn concepts as well as get guidance to real world IT solutions. This book does an excellent job explaining the concept behind these standards and then piecing them together. We finally have a book that looks at the standards holistically.

The best part of this book is the architecture and process guidance it provides. We were working on a project that required us to integrate three systems in a rather flexible way with complex strategic needs. We were able to meet all these objectives by following some of the service layering techniques suggested in the book. It's loaded with design ideas and is sure to provide guidance to almost any complex design needs. Every concept is followed by a case study and in some cases they were very useful to me.

Overall the content is excellent and it is well written and well illustrated. This book is a must for anyone interested in SOA.

Don't underestimate SOA
SOA is not the "bag of hype" I though it to be when I first began investigating it. That is the main lesson I learned from this very well written book. We have research project underway to evaluate the benefits of investing in services and so on. So, part of the reason I read up on SOA was for that project but also to satify my own curiousity. I'm a consultant so I work for more than one organization at the same time. Every one of my clients has expressed interest in SOA, so I want to be prepared.

I think I read every book available, but I would have to vote this one as the winner. It is the most comprehensive documentation about SOA and the book that explained it in the greatest clarity. The author documents key areas of SOA while always providing a vendor neutral point of view. Other books did this as well, but not in this detail and not with the same structure. This book incorporates case study examples and many diagrams consistently. These were entertaining and I guess refreshing to look at as I made my way through the 700 pages.

There is a lot to read, but if SOA is something that is relevant, it is no trouble. As a matter of fact, it is much easier than having to dig around and put bits and pieces of research together. The author has already done that for me.

SOA is becoming important in my circles and I am very happy I found such a valuable resource. THe chapters about web services technologies were also useful, but to me it was the content that targeted SOA the architecture and the theory and elements that are part of that which was the most useful. I finally know what SOA is supposed to be. And more importantly I know how to talk about it to my clients and to help them plan.

Note to author - please write another book about SOA governance. It is the next big area I need to tackle and I'm sure I'm not the only one!.