Web Service Standards: Do we need them?

Abstract

There is a three-fold argument that there are too many overlapping Web service standards, they are not constraining enough and they exhibit too much proprietary interest. These criticisms suggest a dilemma of whether Web service standards are worth investing time in — which raises the question of whether we should use standards or not. This dichotomy raises issues critical to both software engineering and business. Deciding which standards to adhere to is difficult from the viewpoints of the software developer and the perspective of the business arm. We discuss standards’ benefits and downfalls, looking at the implications for stakeholders. For successful uptake standards need precision and flexibility in solutions to common development challenges. Whether there are enough rigorous standards, or whether there are not sufficient robust standards is at the heart of the matter. We will expose different facets of an argument pointing to a standards marshalling framework for easier adherence.