Brendan Tompkins [MVP]

Blog First. Ask Questions Later.

Can SOA exist without Test-Driven Development?

I'm finally implementing some SOA stuff with loosely coupled endpoints. I'm using NUnit to test all of my endpoints before I string them all together. I'm sitting here wondering not if I'm faster at developing this application test-first, but if I'd really be able to develop it at all without unit testing. How would I test any of my Web Services? I guess I could use the built in asmx/html front ends, but that would be almost impossible for what I'm doing which involves fairly complex request documents, plus all that gives me is XML, and my brain is not a validating parser.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you are like me and thinking “I should look into this SOA stuff”, do yourself a favor and go here and read all about test-driven development.

Just my $ 0.02.

Oh. And while I'm typing I should mention that I'd support a movement to force all keyboard manufacturers to include the ¢ sign on a key so that I can type “Just my 2¢” Like what the hell is the ` character for, anyway. I think I remember using it for some strange c programming task, but that was years ago. Or how about the ScrLk key. Does anyone use that thing? At least they could put the ¢ sign below it. Geesh throw us a bone.

Published Aug 05 2004, 01:55 PM by Brendan Tompkins

Comments

Darrell said:

Thanks for the link Brendan!

Building distributed applications is hard, and I'd never want to try it without TDD again! I'm sure you remember the heck that was the final stages of ShipRepair!

# August 5, 2004 10:42 AM

JosephCooney said:

Is application architecture tightly coupled to development menthodology - No. Can SOA be done without TDD - Yes.

# August 5, 2004 11:57 AM

Brendan Tompkins said:

Can you travel from Boca Raton FL, to Venice Beach, CA on a pair of Roller Skates? - Yes

# August 6, 2004 2:22 AM

Brendan Tompkins said:

Am I reading Joeseph's Blog and learing all about WSE - Yes

# August 6, 2004 2:24 AM

Alan Dean said:

Can SOA exist without Test-Driven Development?

# August 24, 2004 11:19 PM

James Gingras said:

I always find it interesting when someone comes out with something that should have been practiced all along, gives it a new name with a catchy phrase and markets it back to the same folks who should already be doing it. I seem to remember something about flowcharting and pseudo-code, then documentation and standardization. Now we have come full circle again. The only difference is we have some new tools that make it "easier" to do. The real issue is standards and sticking to them. Quality vs. Quantity will always be a personal and business decision. Alas, this is the way of things here in IT in corporate America.

My 2 cents worth. It is always good to see good programming and implementation standards promoted, no matter what flavor.

# November 30, 2004 12:02 AM

Brendan Tompkins said:

James,

I agree in general with your point, but Test-Driven is not pseudo-code, flowcharting, etc. It's actually a bit counter-intuitive! I think it is something new.

# November 30, 2004 12:54 AM

Wayne Ariola said:

We agree!!!!!

http://www.parasoft.com/jsp/products/home.jsp?product=SOAP

# June 3, 2005 12:49 PM

Wayne Ariola said:

We agree!!!!!

http://www.parasoft.com/jsp/products/home.jsp?product=SOAP

# June 3, 2005 12:50 PM

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About Brendan Tompkins

Brendan has been programming with .NET since the first public beta and is owner and operator of Port Technology Services, a consultancy company providing .NET application development services to the Maritime industry. In July, 2007, he was awarded the Microsoft MVP award for ASP.NET. He's also a proud co-founder of failed .COM startup Intrinsigo, and has had a hand in the failure of numerous other businesses. He currently runs CodeBetter.Com and Devlicio.us, and lives in Norfolk, Virgina with his wife Tiara and son Ian.