Utilizing SharePoint services (WSS) for your application

I have heard a rumor going around that real SharePoint developers only write code utillizing the SharePoint API.

I have heard a rumor going around that real SharePoint developers never utilize the set of SharePoint web services available to them.

To this I say horse hocky!

For the sake of clarity, let me say for the record that I am not talking about web parts. We all know you must have admin rights to install a web part and that you must be on the server hosting SharePoint in order to install the web part.

I am talking about pure programmatic interaction with SharePoint: creating sites, sub sites, document libraries, folders, lists of all types, adding users etc. You get the idea. 

Let me explain. I love utilizing the depth of SharePoint assemblies that togther comprise the SharePoint API. That being said there are times when utilizing the SharePoint web services are not only beneficial but arguably preferred, I would even say neccessary. Why neccessary you say? Well suppose you are writing an application that must be used to manipulate MOSS or WSS programatically yet you have no access to install your application on the server that hosts SharePoint. You have admin rights to SharePoint itself but not the server hosting it. What then? What if the requirement says that you must write a client application that talks to SharePoint cross network? Tell me how you do that with the SharePoint API?

What did you say? You don't like web services? Think there overrated? Oh, performance...OK. Well go back and tell your customer that you don't give a rip about thier security protocols. Tell your customer that web services suck and you just don't get the whole asynchronous thing, therefore forget it. Can't do the project. That just means more opportunities for me.

I don't see the SharePoint API as competing with the SharePoint web services. I see them as vital and complimentary partners. Together they provide alternatives, something real developers consider when faced with a problem or task.