Sams Teach Yourself Web Services in 24 Hours

Chapter 4. Comparing Web Services to Other Technologies

Whenever business managers hear that a new widget is needed, they instinctively ask, “Why can’t we just use the XYZ technology instead?” This is a perfectly reasonable question to ask if you are a cost-conscious manager. However, this type of thinking can often lead to the “Golden Hammer” approach. When this happens, all problems must be solved with the one magic bullet technology that is familiar to you. Usually this occurs with little thought put into the strengths and weaknesses of that technology and how well it fits the problem at hand. Good engineers always try to expand their tool chest of useful technologies. Web services are another solution to the problem, but they aren’t the only ...