Enterprise software architectures are shifting from collections of
applications that are designed around user interfaces to assemblies of
reuseable services. The first step in the evolution toward service-based
applications was the definition and publication of services encapsulating
discrete business functions.
The second wave used services in point-to-point combinations using protocols
aimed at system interoperability for communication. The next wave of SOA
adoption will focus on enabling composite service definitions that combine
domain-specific languages for process orchestration, XML transformations,
message routing, and business rules.
In this article, we'll look at how SOA platforms are evolving to meet these
requirements. Specifically, we'll examine three related themes:
1. The nature and role of service platforms that are designed to host
composite service... (more)