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What is the difference between Web 2.0, SOA, and SaaS? To me it is a matter of semantics.

SOA proponents claim the architecture they have put forward offers that provide a more flexible way to rapidly build applications using agile methodologies and software as services.

Web 2.0 has been defined a number of ways by a number of different people but is essentially a socialist SOA movement.

What I think is humorous is that both are essentially, at their core advocating SaaS because the model proves to be more efficient and ‘client friendly’. Now with that in mind you have two technological ‘movements’ that are technically similar yet culturally distinct.

Although in my analysis it appears I am in the Web 2.0 camp but not because of technological reasons but because it fits me better. The difference between the two is socialogical. You have your tenured corporate enterprise IT folk that are the leaders in SOA. These are the people who believe that bigger is better and whose IT bible is eWeek and other enterprise IT magazines that I have grown to find dull and boring (much like my views of the enterprise IT landscape).

Now the Web 2.0 side is like a bunch of IT hippies building their own camps, having their own conferences, and using each other’s service to benefit themselves. The web 2.0 side says smaller is better and advocate that principle in all facets of their companies from size to product development.

The difference is people.

Related:

The web services schism

Leveraging the “Global SOA” with Web 2.0

Web 2.0 and SOA: Contrived or Converging?

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