<<When creating a Web service or an entire service-oriented architecture (SOA) for an enterprise, sometimes the easiest thing is the actual coding. Much more difficult can be coming to an agreement about exactly what the supplier and consumer of each service will do.
To help solve this problem a new concept is emerging with regards to Web services and SOAs, what's called a service contract. Although it's not yet in widespread use, there are many who believe that most Web services will ultimately involve a service contract, or at least when the Web service is being created between business partners, rather than for internal user in an enterprise. In this first part of a two-part column, we'll look at what a service contract is, and whether it's really needed. In the next column, we'll look at what should go into a contract, and how to draw one up. What is a service contract? When I refer to a service contract, I'm not talking about an actual legal document. Rest easy -- no lawyers need be involved. Instead, the service contract specifies a set of technical data, and possibly business information. The contract is between whoever is providing the Web service, and whoever is consuming the Web service. Put in the simplest terms, the contract provides details about the service being created by the provider. By agreeing to a contract, both sides understand exactly what will be provided, possibly before any coding is done.>> You can read this at: http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid26_gci1124223, 00.html?track=NL-305&ad=528150 Gervas ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get Bzzzy! (real tools to help you find a job). Welcome to the Sweet Life. http://us.click.yahoo.com/A77XvD/vlQLAA/TtwFAA/NhFolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/service-orientated-architecture/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
