Web Service Studio

Started using Web Service Studio on GotDotNet. I am impressed with this tool. We are implementing a security scheme based on WS-Security and therefore we are turning off HTTP Post and HTTP Get so that SOAP security is not bypassed. This means that Browser based testing is not possible.

I would love to contribute to this product so if “Sowmy” who started the workspace on GotDotNet is listening out there, let me know (I have already requested to be a member of the workspace). In the meantime I will have to be happy making modifications on my own copy of the code ;)

On the WS-Security front. I haven't had a chance to work much with Version 2.0, Technology Preview, but it does look good. Version 1.0 has done everything I have requested and the design is elegant and unobtrusive. What I appreciate most about it is the ability to inspect and evaluate headers prior to the invocation of the actual WebMethod. This is key. I can then implement a security scheme (or whatever) once and not have to worry about it again.

Now for my obligatory rant.

I tried using IBM's WSTK in order to test interoperating. What a pain in the a@#$. No documentation on their security policy file. Now I am the type of developer who appreciates it when someone writes something down so I can just “Look It Up”. Or if there is no documentation, then make it intuitive. Now working with the WSTK and notepad files means that it is probably not intuitive. Now I have no problem working with Notepad. Sometimes I actually prefer it, but I will need documentation. Use BEA Workshop if you are using Java. Its free too.