Customer Reviews

Web Services: A Manager's Guide

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

 

 

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.

This book overpromotes certain vendor web services offerings. This is more than likely caused by the authors day job as an industry analyst where they get paid to write nice things about vendors who offer suboptimal solutions.

I would encourage managers wanting to learn about web services to purchase a book targeted towards developers and only read the first several chapters. Developing Web Services and Java Web Services Architecture are two good books that fill this need.

This seems to be written with the view that most managers are morons - when it comes to technical details. I needed much more than the superficial coverage that this book provides. And if you are, like I was, looking for a book that explains concepts without specific references to vendor implementation then this is not the book for you. I don't want to be in a position where I have to constantly worry about whether the author is not being biased about implementation quality - because, believe me, standards are implemented with wide latitude.

This book should be required reading for all IT/MIS managers getting involved with Web services. It clearly explains the past, present, and likely future value of Web services, putting key concepts in clear context, and cutting through the hype to explain:
1. How Web services relate to earlier distributed computing and enterprise application integration models -- lineage, Web services advantages, and integration considerations
2. What's practical with today's Web services tools and standards -- criteria for determining which applications to start with, as well as Web services product evaluation criteria and overviews (ranging from .NET and the Java platform to specialized/niche offerings)
3. Why and how Web services and the XML-based service-oriented architecture will productively impact most application development endeavors over time
4. Which of the myriad Web services-related standards initiatives are most significant

Anne Thomas Manes has a unique industry-insider perspective on the subject domain, having worked on pioneering distributed computing products, as an industry analyst, and as an influential contributor in many standards-related initiatives. She's also an excellent writer who can demystify complex technology topics and present pragmatic advice for readers seeking to understand and exploit new technologies.

Don't listen to whoever said to buy my book instead of Anne's. You want them both. The difference: Anne's book will help you with your immediate needs. Not only does she explain web services, she names names: protocols, vendors, specific products. It's the guide you want on your desk for quick reference.

My book, Loosely Coupled--The Missing Pieces of Web Services, is a complimentary book. It will give you the bigger picture, help you develop a web-services strategy, and manage web-service projects. It's more of a sit-down-and-read-it kind of book.

Anne focuses on what you can do today. I go more deeply into the challenges of what she calls "Advanced Web Services." Get 'em both!

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.

This is one of the most elegantly written books I have ever read in my carreer. It explains the entire Web services technology in simple terms that even a novice can understand. I especially liked the author's discussion on the hype around Web services spread by vendors. She also provides interesting discussion of both early failures (Hershey) and successes (Amazon, Google, UPS) of organizations that explored Web services that, by necessity, have to address enterprise application integration--especially with legacy applications.

Anne also gives in detail an impartial and objective evaluation of .NET vs. Java that is very enlightening and forever puts to rest the silly question folks keeps asking: "Do I choose Java or .NET?" Dude, the answer is "YES." And, can you say, "Interoperability" and "Peaceful Coexistence"?

Finally, I would love to see Anne to write a book providing an in-depth and competitive analysis of IBM WebSphere, Microsoft .NET, and Sun ONE.

This book is incredibly clear and dense at the same time. Anne Manes accomplishes to show in a vendor neutral way an entire market of products in an emerging industry. I am thoroughly impressed.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It does not contain source code, but still requires a lot of technical understanding from the reader. An excellent book also for developers.

Have you ever wished there be one book that you can read while in an Airport waiting on a plane to catch. If you answered "yes", then this one is for you.

The best part is that you can catch up with Web-services and understand the impact and excellent paradigm it presents you for your EAI needs.

The technology in this field is truly bleeding edge and if you find yourself reading a little out-of-date material, you may know know why. Also, the one point this book missed to cover is the other side of the coin which is the web-services security. On the defence of the author I can only say this is probably due the fact there is still no standard security when it comes to web-services and it might be the end of the year before we have ONE that is highly adopted and accepted.

Anne is well-known figure in the industry, and has many years experience. She does an artful job of making often complex technical concepts lucid. There's a lot of books about Web services - this is the one to buy.