Chapter 2. Defining the Open SOA Platform
This chapter covers
- Evaluating open source products
- Selecting the products
In chapter 1 we explored some of the history behind SOA, and then we examined the key technology underpinnings of a SOA environment. Now we’ll focus on identifying a suitable open source product for each of these technology areas. Collectively they’ll comprise what we’re calling the Open SOA Platform.
The open source community includes many early advocates of the recent wave of emerging SOA-related technology projects. Historically, open source has sometimes been considered a “late-follower,” with commercial products first to hit the market, and then followed by “me-too” open source alternatives. One reason often cited by critics of open source is that open source projects are often not innovators but imitators (of course, some might argue Microsoft has done very well by following the imitation model). There may be some truth to that criticism, but many of the products we’ll be examining are innovative and cutting edge. In some instances, the reason development has lagged vis-à-vis commercial offerings is simply because of resource challenges—open source projects are often supported and staffed by a small team of developers, many of whom have full-time responsibilities elsewhere.