Next Generation Application Integration: From Simple Information to Web Services

Playing the Standards Game

Now that we are closing out our discussion of standards, we can look back and see that the number of standards, even redundant standards, is as complex and difficult to understand as the array of application integration products on the market today. The trick is to understand their value, size up their market viability, and see if there is a strategic fit into your problem domain. Then, you must find products that support them.

Remember, standards are not products or solutions. They simply provide a common data format, process mechanisms, or service-based framework that many people can agree upon. Application integration products, such as application servers and integration servers, are where the rubber meets the road. ...