client for WCF Rest service

Question

What is best way of developing client for wcf services exposing json

what are pros and cons of using

asp.net web forms

asp.net mvc

java script

Answer 1

Once you have a WCF Rest service, any type of client can consume it as it works on just HTTP verbs.

Even if you try to browse the REST service from IE (WebGet methods) you would get back a response. 

Depending on your requirements it would be best to decide on web forms or MVC or javascript as each of them have their own pros and cons.

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Rajesh S V

Answer 2

Hi chintapali,

As for WCF REST style service(either JSON or XML response format), you can consume it in either strong-type client(like c# .NET, JAVA) or script client like ASP.NET AJAX or Jquery based web page.

For .NET specific client, you can use WebChannelFactory to access WCF REST service like a standard WCF service with ServiceContract and DataContract type defined:

#WebChannelFactory(Of TChannel) Class
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb908674.aspx

#WebChannelFactory inside a WCF Service
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/pedram/archive/2008/07/19/webchannelfactory-inside-a-wcf-service.aspx

or you can just use WebRequest like client to access it with raw HTTP requests and manually parse the response data stream(XML or JSON format):

#Stand-Alone JSON Serialization
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb412170.aspx

#How to: Serialize and Deserialize JSON Data
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb412179.aspx

And if you try accessing the REST service from web page script (in the same web app with the WCF service), JQuery is recommended as it has well encapsulated API for making HTTP AJAX requets.

#jQuery AJAX calls to a WCF REST Service
http://www.west-wind.com/weblog/posts/2008/Apr/21/jQuery-AJAX-calls-to-a-WCF-REST-Service

#Consuming a WCF / ASMX / REST Service using jQuery
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/59551/Consuming-a-WCF-ASMX-REST-Service-using-jQuery

Personally, for JSON format response, javascript(JQuery) based client is recommended since you do not need to care about deserialization works. Because the response data can be simply converted to JSON objects without defining datacontract types. While for strong-type client like .NET, you need to define the certain data contract types first and use serializer to deserialize JSON data stream into the defined types instances.

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