Re: Is there a future for RPC style SOAP?

        This argument is in part based on the notion that business to
business interaction (and interoperability in general) is typically not
about exposing specific implementation detail (i.e. objects, methods and
properties) but about the exchange of messages who semantics are described
by schema and in the specific agreements between participating
organisations. This theme (interop) was also strong in the excellent Web
Service DevCon (Boston) back in October.

        Interoperability is clearly greatly assisted by a broad concensus to
standards (and 'in-progress' specifications) since they help to reduce the
cost of entry for those wishing to engage in extended enterprise activity.
Pervasive standards find their way into tooling which of course fuels
adoption - all good (ish). The recent announcement that SOAP 1.2 makes
support for RPC/Encoded optional degrades this common style to one which may
eventually become unreliable (i.e. interop is based on some basic
assumptions about compatibility and/or the ability to degrade).

        So, despite the fact that RPC/Encoded is commonly used today I for
one will not implement anything further using SOAP encoding. This still
leaves the fact that there are some circumstances where implementing RPC
style exchange could be of use. Unfortunately there is little tool support
RPC/Literal so I guess its Doc/Lit only going forward ?

        Fraser.



        From:   Christophe Herreman <[email protected]> on
05/12/2002 17:19
        Please respond to Discussion of implementing SOAP applications today
<[email protected]>@SMTP@NUExchange
        Office Phone No:
        To:     [email protected]@SMTP@NUExchange
        cc:
        Subject:        [SOAP] Is there a future for RPC style SOAP?

        Hello,

        Tim Ewald from Microsoft wrote an illuminating article on why SOAP
encoding
        has no future in web services.

        <http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-
        us/dnsoap/html/argsoape.asp>

        But what about RPC style?

        Is there a future for RPC in web services? As web services are also
        increasing used for intra-enterprise applications there is a clear
need for
        a standardized, cross-platform way of invoking remote procedure
calls.

        br.

        You can read messages from the SOAP archive, unsubscribe from SOAP,
or subscribe to other
        DevelopMentor lists at http://discuss.develop.com.




**********************************************************************
This email and any files sent with it are intended only for the named
recipient. If you are not the named recipient please telephone/email
the sender immediately. You should not disclose the content or
take/retain/distribute any copies.
**********************************************************************


Norwich Union Insurance Limited
Registered Office 8 Surrey Street Norwich
Norfolk NR1 3NG
Registered in England Number 99122
Member of the General Insurance Standards Council

For Further enquiries 01603 622200

You can read messages from the SOAP archive, unsubscribe from SOAP, or subscribe to other
DevelopMentor lists at http://discuss.develop.com.