Sending to and receiving from internet web services on the IBM i system involves using integrated tools and technologies to interact with web services.
Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Sending Requests to Web Services
Receiving Responses from Web Services
Processing Responses: Once a request is sent, the web service processes it and sends back a response. The integrated web services client on IBM i can handle these responses, parsing the XML or JSON data and making it available to your application.
Error Handling: It’s important to implement error handling to manage any issues that arise during communication with the web service, such as network errors or invalid responses.
Example Workflow
Most webservices will follow this loose workflow from cradle to grave:
Define the Web Service
Use the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) for SOAP services or an API specification for REST services to define the web service interface.
Create the Webservice
Now you have decided on the type of webservice (IWS or CGI) and the language (RPGLE, C, Java, etc) and the payload (REST/ SOAP) you can write the webservice itself and get ready to test it.
Generate Service Artifacts
Use the integrated tools to generate the necessary service artifacts, such as client stubs, which facilitate communication with the web service.
Invoke the Service
Write your RPG or COBOL program to invoke the web service using the generated artifacts and transport APIs.
Handle the Response
Process the response data within your program, using it as needed for your business logic.
This integration allows IBM i systems to interact seamlessly with modern web services, enabling them to participate in broader service-oriented architectures and leverage external data and functionality.