REST matters 

 
...one of the most misunderstood concept in the history of IT
 

(and you need more of it)

 

https://goo.gl/5FdmFo

 
Github/Twitter: @kn9ts
 
LinkedIn: http://goo.gl/jMbcJK
 

REpresentational

1

State

 

Transfer

 
Defined by Roy Thomas Fielding in his 2000 PhD dissertation.
 

REST is a non-XML-based, web-based RPC or RMI

 
RPC - Remote Procedure Call
 

HTTP standard

 
  simple HTTP is used to make calls between machines.
 
CORBA, XML-RPC(popular is SOAP) are complex mechanisms to connect between machines
 

JSON

XML

YAML

 
Heavily relies highly in
 

HAL

 

Data Driven

 
{"resource": based}
 
Great for an era where data is the new gold
 
WHY?
 

FLEXIBLE APIS

 
APIs that stand the test of time.
 
Request. Response. Statuses. Links. Data
 

SOAP is Clunky

 

GET
POST
PUT

DELETE

 

VERBS (HTTP)

Have already been defined

 

just use them with URIs
 

HEAD

PATCH
OPTIONS

COPY
LINKS

UNLINK

 

The

Others

 

STATUS CODES

 
exeception already defined.
 

it's cacheable

 
Frequent request can be cached for saving time and processing resources
 
SOAP requests sent via HTTP POST which is not non-indepotent nor cachable
 

Easily secured

 
Can be transmitted via HTTPS, use OAuth2.0 or JWT (JavaScript Web Tokens)
 
SOAP requests sent via HTTP POST which is not non-indepotent nor cachable
 

it's stateless

All request are independent 
some are indempotent
 
SOAP services require maintaining an open stateful connection

Laziness

 
Developer's best friend.
 

The Age of Tools

 

 REST services are now well-supported by tooling.

 

None existent learning curve.

 

ship everyday!

 
Everyday is testing or shipping day!!
 

REST matters! (and you need more of it)

By Eugene Mutai

REST matters! (and you need more of it)

What REST really is and its advantages over SOAP web services

  • 2,761