SocketTools Secure Visual Edition - Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Average Review:   based on 1 review.

jim [United Kingdom] 02-Jun-2004Review: 

I have used and/or purchased the following products for working with windows sockets and internet protocols:
[1] Microsoft Winsock Control (free) - this does "what it says on the tin" - which is not a lot, but I found that it performed basic socket operations admirably. If you only need non-secure basic socket operations, or just need HTTP (not HTTPS) then this may do the job.
[2] Microsoft MSXML2.ServerXMLHTTP (MSXML3) object (free) - this should not really be used for any serious HTTP work, but despite this it has been overused by many for this purpose due to (a) the amount of the code on the web showing it being used for HTTP operations, and (b) the usual "we have to use MS for everything" policy of IT management (i.e. scared of 3rd party tools). It does not perform well under load - one of the reasons behind the introduction by MS of the separate release of [3].
[3] Microsoft WinHTTPS object (free, but currently only in preview form) - If you just want HTTP or HTTPS then this could well be all you need (once they license it for redistribution). Good basic documentation. Nice one MS!
[4] Catalyst Socket Tools Secure Visual Edition v3.5 - this product offers many socket based controls in one package. Catalyst Socket Tools is a good choice, for one simple reason - Catalyst top-level controls are sync or async as required. They have good (but so far always out of date!) documentation.

Conclusion: One thing you should realise is that for any internet protocol all you really need is a socket control (or just Java!) - for example for http just connect to port 80 and send the correct headers etc. according to the protocol. Just something to bear in mind before you shell out for HTTP and FTP controls that you don't really need and are all based on a lower-level socket control. That said, if you need SSL then do go for a socket control that implements it.

This comment was written on 25/10/2001. My current role involves C++/VB/ASP programming in the area of secure XML communications on the Internet (financial industry). I am not affiliated with any of the companies that produce these tools.