SOA needs a makeover
In some weeks I will have my exam in Information Systems. Even though the sun is shining, I am indoors reading “fascinating” articles about Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). For me it is still kind of a blur what this phenomenon/technology/mindset/whatever is about, even though I have read five articles on the subject. The article I am reading now, however, puts some things into perspective. In “Is Web 2.0 the Global SOA?” SOA is compared to Web 2.0 - a phenomenon I am a bit more familiar with. In the article, I read that:
“Web 2.0 emphasizes a social aspect that SOA is completely missing.”
“SOA has much more central configuration control, management, and governance, while Web 2.0 is freewheeling, decentralized, grassroots, and has virtually no command and control structure.”
“SOA tends to be generic and faceless, whereas Web 2.0 shines brightly on human/service interaction.”
“Web 2.0 is almost too informal and practically calls out for discipline, while SOA is mute and autistic in comparison, a technical virtuosity that wants to be social but that doesn’t know how.”
In other words - Web 2.0 is the cool, easy-going kid, while SOA is the geek in desperate need of a makeover. I would like to make a funny illustration on the matter now that I finally had this epiphany. Unfortunately I have to use the next hours to understand how this geek called SOA actually works. I am sure I’ll have a blast figuring it out…