Web services native support in Java6

A new thread
started on TheServerSide prompted by Dims
post on "Why
bundling JAX-WS in Java6 was a bad idea!". Let me explain why I don't
agree.

 I still remember JavaOne 2005 technical keynote getting applauds from
everybody when bundling Web services in Java6 was announced. An approximate 5000
developer audience thrilled that Web services will be available natively in
Java6.

JAX-WS 2.0 is a JCP standard (JSR
224) that enables Web services support in a standard way. Here are some of
the salient features:

• Supports SOAP-based and REST-based services
• Supports both Java-first and WSDL-first programming model equally
• Enables POJO-based Web services
• Descriptor free programming
• Uses industry proven JAXB RI for data binding
• Integrated with NetBeans 5.5 hiding all the tools/config details
• Tested extensively for interoperability

Mainly because of timing constraints, JAX-WS 2.0 (and not 2.1) was included
in Java6. However the currently bundled JAX-WS implementation is very powerful
and allows you to develop/invoke SOAP-based and REST-based services. If you want
to enable different WS-* specifications (such as WS-Security, WS-Reliable
Messaging and WS-Secure Conversation) then you can download WSIT builds and
configure them on Java6 (another blog on that later) and there by WSIT-ifying
your Java6.

Web services and Scripting are the two most talked about features in Java6 as
is evident by a short list of links below (there are many more):

• See
  What's New in Java SE 6 (FTPOnline)
• Java
  SE 6 Tries Smaller Footprint, JavaScript Support (BetaNews)
• Sun Goes
  Multilingual with Java SE 6 (PCWorld)
• Is
  the new Java SE 6 more SOA-friendly than Java EE 5? (SearchWebServices)
• Sun
  Releases Java 6 (Baseline)
• Sun
  releases Java SE 6 (Computer Business Online)
• Sun
  Unveils Java SE 6 (Internet News)
• Sun Releases Java
  Platform Standard Edition 6 (Application Development Trends)
• Sun
  Releases Upgrade Of Java Platform Standard Edition
  (Information Week)

In all, I strongly believe, more as a technology user, that adding basic Web
services support to Java6 is the first step. There is always a balance between
providing an out-of-the-box experience or asking them to download additional
stuff and go through configuration. I believe in simplicity and that's what we
have tried to achieve by adding Web services support in Java6. You'll see more
sophisticated additions in the versions to come.

_{Technorati: Java6 JDK
JAX-WS Web
Services}