Chapter 6: Services Patterns

Overview

Abstractions enable us to assign behavior and data to discrete chunks of software that interact at runtime. In well-architected systems, the sum of these interactions forms a coherent executable intelligence, which provides tangible business value to the enterprise.

The previous chapter introduced patterns for distributing a single application across multiple processing nodes using instance-based collaboration and systems separated by near links. Near links, as you may recall, are reliable links that connect distributed systems residing in the same trust zone and within the same enterprise; near links do not require interoperability. Far links are all other links, including links that span the Internet. This chapter is primarily concerned with systems that are connected by far links and that use service-based collaboration.

When building distributed systems characterized by near links and instance based collaboration, the developing organization usually has full control over all components involved in the solution. However, many large enterprise applications contain systems separated by far links and have to interact with preexisting systems that are usually not under control of the developing organization. For example, an order management system may use credit scoring functionality implemented in a pre-existing system or a sales tax calculation service provided by an external service provider. As a result, complex solutions are likely to have to interact with functions that are controlled by outside organizations and must be used as is.

This chapter focuses on collaboration between applications and external services. To describe how Web services provide an interoperable environment that facilitates such collaboration, the chapter overview addresses the following topics:

• Basic collaboration concepts

• Web services

• Patterns for service-based collaboration using Web services