RE: Comments and Suggestions RE: [bpel-fa-edboard] BPEL FAQ

["Carol Geyer" <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org>]

Andrew,
Great suggestions. We should try to decide which issues we want to cover in the
FAQ format and which make more sense as wiki pages (http://bpel.xml.org/wiki).
 
> Are WS-BPEL and EDI related?

We have a section in the Wiki on 'Related specifications' with a page on how
BPEL relates to SCA and another page on how it relates to BPMN. I created one
for EDI, http://bpel.xml.org/edi. Please add some content here.

>What does a WS-BPEL processor do?
Can we cover this at http://bpel.xml.org/features or should we create a new
wiki page for it?

> Can WS-BPEL support REST?
There's a brief answer at
http://bpel.xml.org/would-ws-bpel-work-restful-web-services. Please feel free
to elaborate on it.

> What is a Web Service?
> What can WS-BPEL do a conventional language with the right SOAP library
can't?
 
These seem like good questions for the FAQ. Please add them. (Go to
http://bpel.xml.org/forum-FAQ-general and select the 'Post new forum topic'
link at the top of the page.)

If we think the FAQ is getting too long, I can divide it up. Right now,
everything is going into that 'General questions' forum, but we could add an
'FAQ for developers' or whatever makes sense.

Thanks,
Carol


-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Francis [mailto:andrew.francis@mail.mcgill.ca] 
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 12:56 PM
To: Carol Geyer; bpel-fa-edboard@lists.xml.org
Subject: Comments and Suggestions RE: [bpel-fa-edboard] BPEL FAQ

Hello Carol:

I read the WS-BPEL FAQ. Some comments and suggestions. From my experiences with
managers (I studied management/operations management) and developers, the
questions I have heard are more along the lines:

1) What is a Web Service?
2) Are WS-BPEL and EDI related (Note - EDI has a bad rap)?
3) What can WS-BPEL do a conventional language with the right SOAP library
can't?
4) What does a WS-BPEL processor do?

Note many of these questions were asked by folks with PhDs in management and
knowledge of IT.

Another question I would ask?

5) Can WS-BPEL support REST?

Another suggestion. I briefly glanced at the Wiki. However it may be helpful to
have a FAQ for specific industries - for instance WS-BPEL for supply-chain
management. Think of this as a crossing the chasm strategy.

Cheers,
Andrew