COM vs Web Services

Developers should learn COM when working on legacy Windows applications, system-level programming, or integrating with Microsoft technologies like Office or Internet Explorer meets developers should learn web services to build scalable, interoperable systems, such as microservices architectures, mobile app backends, or integrations between enterprise applications. Here's our take.

COM

Nice Pick

Developers should learn COM when working on legacy Windows applications, system-level programming, or integrating with Microsoft technologies like Office or Internet Explorer

Pros

• It's essential for maintaining or extending older Windows software, as it underpins many core Windows APIs and services
• Related to: windows-api, ole-automation

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Web Services

Developers should learn Web Services to build scalable, interoperable systems, such as microservices architectures, mobile app backends, or integrations between enterprise applications

Pros

• They are essential for creating APIs that allow third-party developers to extend functionality, enabling features like payment processing, social media logins, or data aggregation from external sources
• Related to: rest-api, soap

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use COM if: You want it's essential for maintaining or extending older windows software, as it underpins many core windows apis and services and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Web Services if: You prioritize they are essential for creating apis that allow third-party developers to extend functionality, enabling features like payment processing, social media logins, or data aggregation from external sources over what COM offers.

The Bottom Line

COM wins

Developers should learn COM when working on legacy Windows applications, system-level programming, or integrating with Microsoft technologies like Office or Internet Explorer