WSDL/SOAP/XML-RPC HELP

[Tomislav Lepusic]

Hello,

I don't know if this is the right group, so if you can help me thanks, if not, sorry to bother you.

I'm working on my student project and I'm totally lost and don't have any idea how to continue, and the deadline is 1.9.2004. Please help, 'couse i'm loosing myself in this XML/SOAP/RPC/WSDL things......

A little discription.
I have to define and make something like virtual driver for serial port (RS232), only it isn't really a driver. The server has to be on Linux box (physical port(s) is/are there), and the other side (client) is not inportant. It is not important what is connected on serial port. Also, there is no need to work on any kind of drivers on Windows or something, becouse that is not the point. I have to make an universal way to send/recive/control serial port on that server computer from anywhere. I know how to program for serial port on Linux (in C), and I have made some progress there. That low-level programing isn't the problem. The problem is how to make it work over the net, so that someone who wants to write a program on Windows or Mac can use something universal to access it (like XML). I HAVE TO USE XML-RPC or SOAP or WSDL or something like that. The problem is that I don't know how to use those technologies. I read some tutorials, guides on XML-RPC, SOAP and WSDL, and I'm totally lost now. BTW, I was planning to use Perl becouse I know something about it. (I don't know Java)

So, if you can help me in any way (advice, similar example or something), please do. This is very important to me. I forget, everything must be secure (SSL or something).

Thank you

Tom

 

[Simon Andrew]

Tomislav,

It's a pity about the 'no-Java' stipulation. Otherwise, my recommendation would be to use Apache as the web server with Sun Java Web Services Developer Pack as the RPC engine and Java Native Interface calls to your C routines. Apache can handle all the HTTPS/SSL a and authentication side of it, JWSDP can handle all the XML/RPC side and then all you have to do is get the Java implementation of your web service to call your C code.

JWSDP makes writing web services (in Java) very easy. All you have to do is write your service implementation and all the WSDL bits are done for you. In your case, the implemenation is a little bit trickier because you will need to bridge Java and C - the API for doing that is called JNI.

But it still seems like a 'big ask' with only 9 days to go. The project plan would need to be something along the lines of: day 1 - learn java, day 2- learn jwsdp,. day 3 learn jni,..day 4 onwards - make it work. The last bit would be to switch on the HTTPS - I'd recommend you get it working with HTTP first.

If you're prepared to take the plunge, check out the following sites:
http://java.sun.com/webservices/index.jsp for JWSDP http://java.sun.com/j2ee/1.4/download.html for Java itself http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/guide/jni/ for JNI.

I truly wish you well.

Regards,
Simon.