Rating: 
Summary: In need of Extensive Editing and Revision
Review: ...Of the 12 or so books I have purchased this past year this one is simply the worst. Members of our web services study group have lost interest in part to the overly obtuse, repetitive and boring style of this book. Themes that could be concisely and clearly stated in one or two paragraphs are unnecessarily drawn out over 10-12 repetitive paragraphs. Code examples are sometimes not clear, or othertime simply won't work as written. For example, an example of XSLT makes no mention that it relies on a bit of XML presented [previously in the book.] The authors are equally careless in their use of language : "A tag is considered to be an empty tag if it stands by itself without any attributes." This is wrong! An empty tag can have attributes but there is no body text in the element. In addition, many of the XML examples have incorrect indentation, making them difficult to read. And there are so many typographical mistakes that simple passages become challenging to read (e.g. referring to "the Price attribute" when they mean the "currency" atribute, and so on). I don't hold the authors fully responsible for the poor writing and inconcise language; it appears that the editors have been lax in their oversight. Perhaps the book was simply rushed out the door in order to be one of the first Java web services books. Many of the other books that I have purchased are now on my bookshelf and are invaluable reference guides. "Developing Java Web Services" will gather dust in the back of my closet. It has been a disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Java Developer's companion for Web services
Review: A great read, cover-to-cover, discussing with depth and well-explained examples outlining every why, what, and how to build Web services applications using Java. It is truly a Java developer's companion and a rare gem of a geekly book that is very helpful for a developer who wants to learn the features and complexities of building Web services practicing examples - from the beginning to the advanced. The authors did an excellent job demonstrating a complete Web services case study, Interoperability with Microsoft .NET, Web services security at just the right places to help clarify difficult topics. They used a variety of software including Sun JWSDP, Weblogic, Apache Axis, IBM WSDK, Systinet and Microsoft .NET for the demonstrating examples with build scripts and instructions. Which is quite rare to find in other Web services books. If you are going to build Web services in your project, then it is a true companion and must have book -- I can assure you.
Rating: 
Summary: Tutor book for students at the best
Review: After reading the complete book i got the impression that the only possible audince for this book are students. For getting just basic understanding on Web Services.
Despite the volume, size and weight, this book is no more than introductory to the basic concepts of WS. Any themes that are slightly beyond basic usage of standards and APIs are not decribed well.
The title does not match contents.
Security. This is very little in the book about real security. Again all limited by SAML and other standards. Nothing on .NET WS security, ws-security, 3d party vendors. Difference is that standards in WS security little have with real deployments.
Architecture. This is not book about architecture of Web Services. Architecture focuses not how this works but what we build. In this sense this book have nothing in this extent.
Describing standards and APIs does not define architecure apparently.
Industry domaina are not covered. Generally business part of WS is not covered. Where is BizTalk, ebXML, XML databases?
Nothing about RDF and Semantic Web as well.
Bottom line is that i can recommend you the book only if you want to study Web Services from academic point of view being a student. This is not a book for professional developer, engineer, manager or software architect.
Rating:
Summary: best web services book
Review: As a java application developer I am tryin to upgrade skills a bit by learnin web services. Just got this book 9 days back...it is is a great guide because it gives all the concepts, lots of examples and a complete understanding about why web services. I kinda bought this book with less hopes ; thought it would be like rest of the books out there ; lots of web services hoopla wth no substance. But from what I read so long it has been a good journey (ch. 7) , don't know after this but hope it'd still serve purpose ;)
Rating:
Summary: It's not for Web Services beginners
Review: Be careful when you buy this book. It's absolutely not for people new to web services. I bought this book after I saw others' review. I have three years of Java programming experience and know basic knowledge of XML. According to the author of this book, I am the right reader. After reading the first few chapters, I was very disappointed. For example, it repeatly explains some web service terms in this chapter, again next section and again next section...using hard-to-understand expression. It seems the authors want to put more pages onto the book. It's really annoying. While when I need more techinical detailed explanation(for example in SOAP chapter), it does not provide but only put there a bunch of sample code. Unless you already have pretty good knowledge about SOAP, you won't be able to understand them. I have to be careful to others' review in the future and better look at the book at bookstore before buying it. Anyway, unless you already have experience in Web Services, this book wastes your time. Go to some other books.
Rating:
Summary: Useful hands-on information
Review: contains nice useful hands-on information. just implemented a prototype of ws for a client project using the case study chapter. saved my day at work.
Rating:
Summary: A-
Review: Great work to the authors! I bought this book in june but just recently done trough it. Sure there are mistakes, but I haven't found 1 book that doesn't!
I don't believe it is fair to say that this makes to book grabage. I think the editor should provide a better infrastructure to make adequate reviews/corrections to these manuscripts. In general, I think this book deserves thumbs up considering that it has been writen few months ago.
Rating:
Summary: Bored to tears...
Review: I am new to web services, and purchased this book based on the good reviews it has received. I was quite disappointed in this book, which is both repetitive, drawn-out and shallow in its coverage of web services. Although the book covers most aspects of web service development using JWSDP, as a result almost nothing is covered in great detail, and the book's 700+ pages ultimately provide a dreary drawn-out overview of web services better found elsewhere. I am now using Apache Axis to create web services, trying to figure out how to create stateful web services. Axis is barely covered by the book, and I cannot find any mention of how to implement stateful web services. As a result, the book stays on the shelf collecting dust, while I google around the Internet for answers.
Rating:
Summary: Great Content. Great Explanations, Great Examples,Geat Book!
Review: I bought this book just few months ago and have used it every day at work as a guide to developping web services.
Even with the upcoming version of JWSDP, I think this book will remain the primary reference manual for myself and the developers in my department.
This is not exactly a beginner's guide BUT does outline all key technologies that are needed for a complete understanding of the web services model. The book has some advanced topics that may
be more appropriate for architects who focus on building web services oriented systems. A great case study is used to demonstrate how the pieces fit together.
Other key chapters focus on Web services architecture, JAX APIs and an extensive chapter on security. Security is covered from the grounds up and can be used as a great starting point for web services security. As a veteran in the industry, I give this book and the authors 5 thums up. //js
Rating: 
Summary: Good coverage with examples
Review: I bought this book with less hopes, but this book really excited me with good lot of technologies and examples. Although it discusses about BEA Weblogic and Apache Axis in couple of chapters, this book is very much Pro-SUN Web services book which drives you more in to Sun's JWSDP especially JAX* APIs. The authors tried their best to convince all J2EE Pros including the big crowd of Weblogic and Apache fans before making their introduction to Sun's JAX APIs. I was surprised to see Weblogic 7.0 did'nt have JAX* API support, but the authors are right. The Microsoft .NET chapter shows you how to create .NET Service client but not Microsoft .NET service, this shows the authors interest in promoting Sun technologies. Another surprising thing, In the security chapter the authors illustrate XML Encryption and Signature techniques using IBM Security suite. Now you don't doubt, Why Simon Phipps endorsed this book. With Web services specifications still evolving and changing everyday, no book would be good forever ! And I also believe no book would be good enough to keep for the next 3 years. But if you have a Web services project in the next six months which involves Java/J2EE and Microsoft .NET, this book is your best companion and the code examples are enough to demonstrate your show.
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