Web Services: A Manager's Guide
Author: Anne Thomas Manes
List Price: $34.99
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ISBN: 0321185773
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co (11 June, 2003)
Sales Rank: 36,754
Average Customer Rating: 4.27 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
An On Demand Integration Primer
I am so glad that this is the first book that I chose to read on Web Services. In our ever-changing world of IT, new technology and new terms pass by at dizzying speeds. We latch onto some and let others go in our attempt to stay current and relevant. The area of integration will be foundational for the new business models of the 21st century and Web Services is at the starting blocks to making it happen. As a technologist for one of the main players in IT Consulting & Services, I was looking for an unbiased (non company-oriented) and comprehensive view of the components, applications and issues surrounding Web Services. I found it in this book. Like one of the other reviewers, this was one of the most enjoyable business technology books that I have read and it exceeded my expectations. I also agree with the comment that this book should not be limited to managers. Even those who work deep in the details need to have a good understanding of the big picture from a business viewpoint to create the kind of value required. My thanks to Addison-Wesley and Anne Thomas Manes.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Managers AND programmers should consider this
The title is too restrictive! Ostensibly, the book is for managers and not engineers. There is not a stitch of source code in the book. The author does not assume that you know how to write code, but that you know how businesses use software. My impression is that the book is too useful to be restricted to managers. Programmers can also benefit, if they are about to embark on design and coding of a Web Service, and they have never done so before. Try starting here, as the first step in the design. Manes gives an excellent summary of the field, with what I consider realistic assessments of its prospects. Part of the book's appeal is the vendor independence. Yes, you can go to the websites of IBM, Microsoft, BEA Systems and others, and find the latest status of their WS offerings and white papers on their strategic takes. And you probably should do that. But getting an independent comparison of their efforts is futile from their own papers.
I especially agree with her assertion that the dynamic assembly of software services is at least 10 years away. This is like in the 80s, when 4th and 5th Generation Languages were touted as just around the corner. When they arrived, you could instruct your computer in new tasks, without having to program! Well, that never happened. The complexity of business and research applications precluded it. Likewise with Web Services. Manes warns the reader not to be beguiled by such claims, but to focus on immediate do-ables.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Biased book
Web services is all about standards and interoperability. But in this book, the author completely biased and tends to favor two vendors. This certainly made to throw this book to the corner to gather dust. There are so many best books available on Web services..better choose from authors who preach and practice web services.I Saved your money.
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