Service-Oriented Architecture: A Field Guide to Integrating XML and Web Services

Preface

My father runs a placer mine, far North in a remote part of the Yukon wilderness. For almost half a century, he's made his living plowing through mountains with his bulldozers, looking for gold. Due to the climate, he gets only a limited amount of time during which he can actually mine. His priority, therefore, is to keep his business fully operational throughout this period. Any disruption results in lost revenue. Despite his best efforts, though, he is constantly faced with obstacles.

He's had to contend with volatile, sometimes even violent environmental conditions. He's had to confront bears that roamed into his camp, looking for food. He's even chased thieves off his land in the middle of the night. Once, the hydraulic pump on his ...