REST continues to gain momentum as the best method for building web services, leaving many web architects to consider whether and how to include this approach in their SOA and SOAP-dominated world. This book offers a down-to-earth explanation of REST, with techniques and examples that show you how to design and implement integration solutions using the REST architectural style. * Explore several web communications approaches, and discover what makes REST different * Walk through the pros and cons of the RESTful approach * Learn how the underlying architecture of the Web can drastically simplify programming built on top of it * View REST in the context of cloud computing and the Semantic Web * Understand how hypermedia serves as a model for computers to process data

About the Author

Jim Webber is the SOA practice lead for ThoughtWorks where he works on dependable service-oriented systems. Jim was formerly a senior researcher with the UK E-Science programme where he developed strategies for aligning Grid computing with Web Services practices and architectural patterns for dependable Service-Oriented computing. Jim has extensive Web Services architecture and development experience as an architect with Arjuna Technologies and was the lead developer with Hewlett-Packard on the industry's first Web Services Transaction solution. Jim is an active speaker in the Web Services space and is co-author of the book "Developing Enterprise Web Services - An Architect's Guide." Jim holds a B.Sc. in Computing Science and Ph.D. in Parallel Computing both from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His blog is located at http://jim.webber.name. Savas Parastides is an Architect in Microsoft's Search group, working on semantics and knowledge representation technologies. Previously he was part of Microsoft Research where he led the design and implementation of a number of tools for scientists and a development platforms for semantic computing applications called Zentity. He originally joined Microsoft as part of the architecture team in the Connected System Division doing the initial work for the Oslo (M language) modeling platform. Prior to joining Microsoft, Savas was a Principal Research Associate at the University of Newcastle where he undertook research in the areas of distributed, service-oriented computing and e-Science. He was also the Chief Software Architect at the North-East Regional e-Science Centre where he oversaw the architecture and the application of Web Services technologies for a number of large research projects. Savas also worked as a Senior Software Engineer for Hewlett Packard where he co-lead the R&D effort for the industry's Web Service transactions service and protocol. Savas' blog is located at http://savas.me. Ian Robinson is a Principal Consultant with ThoughtWorks, where he specialises in helping clients create sustainable service-oriented development capabilities that align business and IT from inception through to operation. He has written guidance for Microsoft on implementing service-oriented systems with Microsoft technologies, and has published articles on business-oriented development methodologies and distributed systems design - most recently in The ThoughtWorks Anthology (Pragmatic Programmers, 2008). He presents at conferences worldwide on RESTful enterprise integration and distributed systems design and delivery.