Java™ Web Services Unleashed

Apache SOAP for RPC

Apache SOAP's strongest capability is in writing SOAP nodes. Literally all you need to do is write a so-called deployment descriptor (an XML document that outlines which methods are exposed on the network) to turn regular Java classes in SOAP nodes.

Unfortunately, it is less effective for writing clients. The library requires too many steps for a simple call. We hope that future versions of the library will address this problem, perhaps with an RMI binding or by generating the code from WSDL files.

Writing the Service Provider

Listing 8.6 is BookingService, the SOAP node you have used so far. It implements the three methods defined on the service. Remember they are:

• getAllResources()

• getFreeResourcesOn()

• bookResource()

Listing ...