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Re: SOAP and REST at Amazon

• To: Jonathan Robie <jonathan.robie@d...>
• Subject: Re: SOAP and REST at Amazon
• From: "Chiusano Joseph" <chiusano_joseph@b...>
• Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 10:14:57 -0500
• Cc: xml-dev@l...
• Organization: Booz Allen Hamilton
• References: <6.0.0.22.2.20031217093240.021244c8@p...>

Paul Prescod's excellent April 2002 XML.com article on the Google API
[1] addresses the same general issues. Paul makes some points regarding
benefits of the HTTP approach (several listed below - most if not all
are still pertinent today):

- HTTP has standardized ways of doing authentication and of handling
non-XML (including non-textual) data. 

- The message size is a tiny fraction of the original. 

- It is much easier for a typical system security administrator to
filter, log, monitor and read [the HTTP version].

- The CPU load is also likely to be significantly smaller.

- Users of the HTTP version have no need to install a SOAP
implementation like .NET's or Apache's. They can use any HTTP
implementation, including Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, [snip]

- The HTTP version is highly amenable to caching. You can set up a
standard HTTP cache on your local network or use one at your ISP.

- The HTTP version could use the little-known feature of HTTP known as
content negotiation.

Kind Regards,
Joe Chiusano
Booz | Allen | Hamilton
Strategy and Technology Consultants to the World

[1] http://webservices.xml.com/pub/a/ws/2002/04/24/google.html?page=1

Jonathan Robie wrote:
> 
>  From http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2003/12/09/xml2003amazon.html:
> 
> >The next issue was that of protocols. Should they support SOAP or XML over
> >HTTP (that is, REST)? In the end Amazon provided both and let developers
> >make the choice. Despite it being the "standard", only about 15% of Amazon
> >web services calls are made with SOAP, the remainder with REST.
> 
> Why do you think Amazon's users prefer REST?   Suppose every web service
> were available using either REST or SOAP - when would you choose to go with
> SOAP?
> 
> Jonathan
> 
> 
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• References:
  • SOAP and REST at Amazon
    • From: Jonathan Robie <jonathan.robie@d...>

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