Customer Reviews

Next Generation Application Integration: From Simple Information to Web Services

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

An OK overview, not too much hype. However, the explanations are often so brief that the more complex standards (BPEL4WS being a particular case) would be impossible to understand if I hadn't read the official documents. The figures are plentiful and often awful. Many have little connection to the text that references them (13.2, 15.1, 15.2 being good examples). Entities in the figures are not explained in the text, and the text uses terms that do not show up in the figures. Also, anyone who includes a six-page listing of XML syntax without any kind of structuring, enhancement, or occasional word of explanation (e.g., listing 12.1) should be pilloried. Despite the fact that this has become some sort of sport, XML syntax was not designed to be read by humans in great quantities.

The style was a bit too chummy for my taste but perhaps that is what makes the books acceptable to nontechnical people? And the author should really find another favorite verb instead of "leverage". He employs it instead of "use", "implement", "incorporate", "include", and some more words, all of which would be either shorter or more clear (I thought I even spotted a couple of cases where "provide" seemed intended). By page 200 it gets to be a major irritation.

I found this book to be very short on any kind of meat or details. I'm very tempted to ask for my money back. There is no insight here - the book could have been compiled from a series of press releases. I think the standard of the book is typified by the 'bibliography' which seems to list every single article the author has ever written, including in magazines like Computer Shopper a decade ago. How that is supposed to be any help to anybody I cannot see. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Linthicum writes a comprehensive text for technology managers. The 500-page book describes the world of EAI in detail with an emphasis on web services. It covers the benefits and limitations of web services, provides examples of where to use and not use them, and introduces standards with an emphasis on XML. The book encourages IT to make the much-needed shift from an information to a service-orientation. As such, a considerable part of the book dedicated to emerging EAI styles, such as SOA (Service Oriented Architecture), which requires IT to think in business terms and promises to speed development and decrease integration time when correctly implemented. Coders and those looking for technical information on standards should look elsewhere. The book contains many diagrams that are crude but effective. The writing style is unrefined and repetitive. This can be overlooked if you're willing to skim through them.

I really enjoyed this book; it seemed to answer all of the questions I had about application integration. I also enjoyed the way this book is organized, it gets right to the point, gives you the skinny, and moves on to other topics.

However, you should know that this is a strategic book; there is not much here for hardcore developers. However, I be a manager.

Like Linthicums previous books, this is surely not for someone who wants to get technical folks, its for the business people. As such, if you are a technical person and occasionally need to advice the management or help them understand technical issues, this book might help to understand their framework.

If you see it on your bosses or customers bookshelf, at least skim through it in the local bookstore. Otherwise, if unlucky, you might be forced to look at the pictures anyhow in the next management meeting shown in power point titled "Road Map" without a good counter-argument prepared.

I've read this book making notes. I was new to Application Integration but now have a firm grip on the subject. I did need to put my notes in a more comprehensive order though, the book is jumping back and forth and doesn't have a coherend style of comparing(for instance Synchronous versus asynchronous is compared, Direct communication is separated from Queued communication though etc.) maybe there wasn't an editor firmiliar with the subject.

This book definitaly needs an update, it looks like it's predictions are coming true at last. Now there's a chance for re-editing at the same time, this book deserves it!

This is an entirely useless book. If you think you will understand what Web Services are from reading this book, I can assure you that you will not.

On the other hand if you "think" that you have understood Web Services or Application Integration for that matter, from reading this book, I can assure you that you have no idea what you are talking about because neither does the Author.

Everything that this book wants to convey, it can be put in no more than 10 pages of a white paper.

Not sure what this was all about, so I figured I would plunk down $40 for this book, and I'm glad I did. The book puts things into perspective for me, more so than other books I've read on the topic. Also, I thought the views were well balanced...down-to-earth...defining the ROI, as well as the technology.

It is a bit technical in places, but does not seem to talk too much above the heads of those that are less technical. The figures are helpful, however.

This is a good book highlighting application integration, and how it extends to Web services. I was very happy with the content, I thought the information was presented well, and the book is well organized. I'm not a technical type, and I found that this book was tough to follow in places without some additional background research as I was reading...even using the author's previous books.

Overall it's worth the time and the money, I would recommend it to anyone looking to figure this stuff out, as I'm doing right now.

I've read the author's other books and found them very valuable, and this book is no different. This book does a great job in explaining how Web services fits into the world of EAI. I really liked the way the author approaches the topic, using practical applications and examples, where to use Web services, and where not to use Web services. Good information beyond the hype.

However, this is not just a Web services book. You'll find most of the information you'll need to run an EAI project (don?t ask me how I know that). The book does not dictate a static solutions, as do other Web service books, but allows you to find the right technology for the needs of your project.