Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Google
Google
Makes a variety of APIs available at
http://code.google.com/
. They are no longer giving
out keys to their SOAP-based web service, and the services they offer are primarily fo-
cused around JSON and similar technologies.
Discussion
Web services are very complex. Despite the fact that they are wonderful tools for integration
across platforms, and that companies like Sun and Microsoft have made great strides in work-
ing toward true interoperability with them, services remain just plain hard. They include fussy
details that require painstaking attention. The reality of web services today is that there are
many slight variations across platforms, versions of the platforms, and different implementa-
tions of engines and IDEs. How does one get started in such an environment?
One way to make the enormous web-services pill a little easier to swallow is to eliminate one
half of the equation. Instead of writing the service and consuming it too, you can use some
web services that are publicly available for free, and just concentrate on getting your client
going. That gives you an opportunity to understand the intricacies from one side and see how
your client works with an already tested service, so that you can be confident in at least one
piece initially.
