Draft Q+A SOAP 1.2 and WSDL

This is in fullfilment of my action item.

Jean-Jacques.

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Q: Can I use SOAP 1.2 without WSDL?

A: Yes, you can use SOAP 1.2 without WSDL. Indeed, SOAP 1.2 is not
dependent upon WSDL, so you can use your favorite SOAP 1.2 toolkit to
send or process SOAP 1.2 requests.

This being said, there are a number of toolkits that let you program
directly to WSDL, not SOAP. The current version of WSDL, WSDL 1.1, does
not support SOAP 1.2. Does this mean I cannot use SOAP 1.2 now with my
WSDL toolkit?

The answer to this questions comes in three parts.

First, your WSDL toolkit provider may be able to provide an interim
solution until the next version of WSDL is available. (Note: there may
be interop problems.)

Second, SOAPBuilders is providing an upgrade[1] to WSDL 1.1 that
supports SOAP 1.2. You may wish to use the upgrade until the next major
release of WSDL is available. (Note: this upgrade is generally ok, but
does NOT support the newer features of SOAP 1.2.)

Third, you may wait for W3C to release the next major version of WSDL,
WSDL 1.2. This version will fully support SOAP 1.2 and is likely to be
available <pickYourFavorite>
    <option1>by the end of this year</option1>
    <opiont2>early next year</option2>
</pickYourFavorite>. (Note: expect some delay between the publication of
WSDL 1.2 as a W3C Recommendation and implementation by vendors.)

W3C is dedicated to provide support for SOAP 1.2 in WSDL, and is
actively working on this issue.

[1] <insert URI here>

Received on Friday, 13 June 2003 12:23:00 UTC