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by tacos 4050 days ago
Microsoft fanboy here. But... this product is total shit. Even if you're tasked with some horror like talking to an overdesigned XML backend written in Java nine years ago that uses an alternate canonicalization for digitally-signed XML and requires a slightly-deviant form of SOAP authentication... well, it'll eventually work.

The source won't help you. It's the least of your concerns.

This is exactly the type of overdesigned schlock that Microsoft occasionally emits then gets stuck supporting because two big corporate clients signed on after two junior devs watched an MSDN talk with the nutjob who architected it. Avoid it.
3 comments
ilitirit 4050 days ago
> overdesigned XML backend written in Java nine years ago that uses an alternate canonicalization for digitally-signed XML and requires a slightly-deviant form of SOAP authentication

I think you've found your problem.

I'm pretty sure everyone has had to deal with alien legacy systems at some point in their lives. It just goes with the territory. I have yet to come across a technology to that can handle all exceptions and edge cases.

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jsingleton 4050 days ago
I've been there and this tool is invaluable: http://www.soapui.org/

That and wireshark, and netmon. OK, I need to stop now or the repressed memories will come back. :)

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ilitirit 4050 days ago
Sadly, even SOAP UI can't solve all your problems. WS-* is just so complex that it's rare to find two sufficiently compatible implementations.

For example, on one WCF service I capture the message as it arrives and then write to disk. If I replay this message through SOAP UI, it fails unless I modify some of the headers.

WS-* just sucks in general.

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jsingleton 4050 days ago
Oh it doesn't make it easy! It just gives you a chance.
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tracker1 4050 days ago
Actually, given the disconnect with how poorly Java (and PHP) services are for defining their child types ("Object" should never be a type exposed in the wsdl), I've found that creating a shim service in Node.js to connect to the Java/PHP webservices to funnel requests into something that can be better typed against works... I don't like doing it, but it works.
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