Java Webservices - JDK version

Question

I would like to create a webservice (either SOAP or REST) in java with jdk 1.5 (deployed Weblogic 9.2 which is 1.5 compatible) and the same will be consumed by the client created with jdk1.6. Is the above claim fine? Or both the clinet and the server should be created of the same jdk version?

I know this might be reduntant question, but i'm unable to find a satisfactory answer googling.

• What are the better options(frameworks,methodology etc.,) to develop java webservices with jdk 1.5 ?
• SOAP and REST have their own advantages and disadvantages, I would like to know if the clinet is not via a web browser (but a standalone java program or so), then what is the better approach to get along.. SOAP or REST? Added to this, I also need the webservice to be secure i.e, user authenticated possibly..

Thanks.

Answer 1

The main advantage of Web Services is that the server and client use HTTP and XML or JSON as the communication language and don't have to share anything else in common. The client could be .NET on Windows, and the server could be Java on Linux, or even embedded C inside a smart appliance. If you're wanting to share the actual program code that interprets and uses the data transferred, then you can reuse it most easily if you're using the same platform on both ends, but that's not a requirement.

These days, I would encourage you to see if there's any way possible to use a more modern version of Java. Even Java 6 is deprecated now.

As for frameworks, look at Spring MVC, especially its JSON support. SOAP and REST have more to do with the design of your program logic (REST is basically stateless, which isn't appropriate for all systems).