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Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

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Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#11
post #7

The primary appeal of a REST interface is simplicity. You don't need a proprietary library to make sense of it. All you need are a list of resources and in the case of PUT/POST operations, parameters, and the rest is handled by the nature of HTTP. No fancy libraries, no confounded WSDL files, easily-inspected responses. You can consume it using very common libraries and even roll your own with ease. If you're always…

> If you're always providing API access through a proprietary library, > it doesn't matter if it's REST, SOAP, custom binary protocols, or whatnot.

That was exactly my thought. I was looking for reinforcement of the possibility that people will still want the entire REST interface visible and documented even in the presence of wrapper libraries.

Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#12

If your clients only use your provided libraries then there is no difference between SOAP and REST in this instance as the primary attraction of REST (accessing the methods through HTTP requests) will be abstracted by the library. So either that 25% wants a RESTful interface because they're going to opt not to use your libraries or because they're conditioned to vote for REST over SOAP.

> ... conditioned to vote for REST over SOAP.

Yes, I dread to think I'm going through a lengthy project just to address a current fashion trend...

Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#13
Two things:

* You're going to have to support your SOAP endpoint anyway, so only maintain libraries for your SOAP endpoint (at least for now). Having a PHP library for SOAP and a PHP library for REST will just confuse people to no end.

* Put up a form on your web site that says "Put your email in to get early access to our REST API" and then see if anyone actually bites.

Just because someone on a survey said they wanted REST instead of SOAP doesn't mean that you have to run off and do it, or that they wouldn't necessarily use the SOAP API if they actually had to solve a problem with your API.

We built some really interesting stuff on SOAP and WS-* in the 2002-2003 era, and it's always fun to see development trends go in circles.

Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#14
post #11
post #7

The primary appeal of a REST interface is simplicity. You don't need a proprietary library to make sense of it. All you need are a list of resources and in the case of PUT/POST operations, parameters, and the rest is handled by the nature of HTTP. No fancy libraries, no confounded WSDL files, easily-inspected responses. You can consume it using very common libraries and even roll your own with ease. If you're always…

> If you're always providing API access through a proprietary library, > it doesn't matter if it's REST, SOAP, custom binary protocols, or whatnot. That was exactly my thought. I was looking for reinforcement of the possibility that people will still want the entire REST interface visible and documented even in the presence of wrapper libraries.

Personally, I prefer REST interfaces, because it always seems like vendor libraries have just enough suck in them to make me want to use my own.

Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#15

Two things: * You're going to have to support your SOAP endpoint anyway, so only maintain libraries for your SOAP endpoint (at least for now). Having a PHP library for SOAP and a PHP library for REST will just confuse people to no end. * Put up a form on your web site that says "Put your email in to get early access to our REST API" and then see if anyone actually bites. Just because someone on a survey said they wan…

> only maintain libraries for your SOAP endpoint (at least for now

Check. This was the decision that came out of today's product meeting after reading responses here.

> Put up a form...

Check. Already did this a couple weeks ago at www.interfax.net/en/dev/rest. Already got a few bites.

> Just because someone on a survey said they wanted REST instead of SOAP ...

I agree. However, we ran several variations of the survey including one where developers had an opportunity to say that not having REST is a show-stopper for them, which got us worried.

Strangely, most of those who insisted on REST develop in environments which have the strongest SOAP support, like C#, PHP, and Java. This got me thinking that we might be dealing with fashion issues more than practical issues...

Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#16

Two things: * You're going to have to support your SOAP endpoint anyway, so only maintain libraries for your SOAP endpoint (at least for now). Having a PHP library for SOAP and a PHP library for REST will just confuse people to no end. * Put up a form on your web site that says "Put your email in to get early access to our REST API" and then see if anyone actually bites. Just because someone on a survey said they wan…

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Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#17

Two things: * You're going to have to support your SOAP endpoint anyway, so only maintain libraries for your SOAP endpoint (at least for now). Having a PHP library for SOAP and a PHP library for REST will just confuse people to no end. * Put up a form on your web site that says "Put your email in to get early access to our REST API" and then see if anyone actually bites. Just because someone on a survey said they wan…

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Re: Ask HN: SOAP vs REST - help me understand

#18

Two things: * You're going to have to support your SOAP endpoint anyway, so only maintain libraries for your SOAP endpoint (at least for now). Having a PHP library for SOAP and a PHP library for REST will just confuse people to no end. * Put up a form on your web site that says "Put your email in to get early access to our REST API" and then see if anyone actually bites. Just because someone on a survey said they wan…

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