An in-depth guide to J2EE 1.4 Web services that covers design, development, and integration best practices -- from the experts at Sun.

This book describes designing Web services using the current technologies available with the Javatrade; 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition. This book and the accompanying Javatrade; Adventure Builder Reference application (hereafter referred to as adventure builder) are part of the successful Java BluePrints program created by Sun Microsystems with the introduction of the J2EE platform. Application architects, developers, and students everywhere have used this program to better understand the programming model inherent in the J2EE platform.Rather than providing information on how to use individual Java technologies to write applications, which falls within the realm of the companion Java Tutorial program, the Java BluePrints focuses on guidelines for application architecture and design, such as distributing J2EE application functionality across tiers and choosing among design options for Web services endpoints. This book describes the Web services and related technologies of the J2EE platform. Its focus is how to best apply these J2EE platform technologies to writing Web service applications. This book assumes that you have a basic knowledge of the J2EE platform, which you can get fromThe J2EEtrade; Tutorial, and is meant to be read in conjunction withDesigning Enterprise Applications with the J2EE Platform, Second Edition, since that book covers the J2EE platform technologies for writing traditional enterprise applications.This book is intended primarily for enterprise architects and application developers engaged in or considering writing Web services and Web service applications with the J2EE platform. It is also useful for product vendors interested in developing Web service applications consistent with the J2EE platform standard. Obtaining the Reference ApplicationThe adventure builder reference application, which is described in this book, is available on the compact disk included with this book. You can also download it from: http://java.sun.com/blueprints/code/The application requires a J2EE version 1.4-compliant platform on which to run. The accompanying compact disk includes an implementation of this platform and an application server. You can download the J2EE SDKtrade;, which is a freely available implementation of that platform, from: http://java.sun.com/j2ee/download.htmlThe Java BluePrints Web site includes additional content, available only online, that describes in detail the architecture of the Java adventure builder sample application. References and ResourcesPointers to J2EE documentation can be found at: http://java.sun.com/j2ee/1.4/docsFor information on how to use the J2EE SDK to construct multi-tier enterprise applications, refer to theJ2EE Tutorial, available at: http://java.sun.com/j2ee/1.4/docs/tutorial/docsWe relied on many of the following references for technical details and background. These references are good sources for those interested in exploring Web services in greater detail. Designing Enterprise Applications with the J2EE Platform, Second Edition. I. Singh, B. Stearns, M. Johnson, Enterprise Team. Copyright 2002, Addison-Wesley. The Java BluePrints Web site, . Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies, Second Edition. D. Alur, D. Malks, J. Crupi. Copyright 2003, Prentice Hall PTR. Enterprise Integration Patterns: Designing, Building, and Deploying Messaging Solutions. G. Hohpe, B. Woolf. Copyright 2003, Addison-Wesley.The Web services standards cited in this book are: WS-I Basic Profile, Ver