Custom Backend Parser & Form Generator | NDA Project
Overview
We worked with an emerging startup to build a powerful backend tool that parses WSDL (Web Service Definition Language) files to dynamically generate structured forms. The tool was designed to bridge the gap between complex legacy SOAP APIs and modern web form workflows.
Due to NDA, client and industry details are withheld. However, the technical challenge and architecture are representative of our ability to handle highly dynamic data models and complex schema interpretation.
The Challenge
WSDL schemas can be incredibly deep and complex, often describing operations with 35 to over 695 individual fields, including nested elements and repeating structures. Building forms manually for each SOAP endpoint was time-consuming, error-prone, and not scalable.
The client needed a system that could:
- Parse any valid WSDL file and extract its data model
- Let users select the relevant interface or operation
- Identify repeatable structures and 1:N relationships
- Allow saving and reusing custom form configurations
- Generate valid responses from user-completed forms, aligned with the original WSDL schema
Our Solution
We developed a custom backend service that could:
- Parse WSDL definitions and extract schema metadata, including types, field relationships, and constraints
- Offer a UI-guided experience where users selected the relevant structures, and pruned unnecessary ones(Using Bootstrap)
- Recognize and flag repeatable fields (e.g., lists or arrays) for accurate UI rendering
- Allow users to upload their own WSDLs to tailor the tool for different clients or use cases
- Save user-selected structures into versioned form definitions, which could be reused later
- Accept filled-out forms and generate valid response payloads, matching the required SOAP schema structure
Key Features
- WSDL file ingestion and schema parsing
- Support for complex relationships (e.g., nested fields, required/optional logic, cardinality)
- Repeatable structure detection for dynamic form sections
- Custom WSDL upload support for flexibility across different environments
- Persistent saved forms with version control
- SOAP response generation based on completed forms
Outcomes
- Reduced setup time for new SOAP endpoints from hours to minutes
- Enabled scalable form generation with zero manual schema mapping
- Empowered non-technical users to work with complex APIs through a guided UI
- Created a foundation for future integrations with other schema formats (XSD, OpenAPI, etc.)
“We gave our client a way to treat WSDL like configuration, not code—dramatically improving speed, reliability, and usability.”
Summary
This confidential project is a great example of deep backend logic driving real-world usability. By automating the transformation of complex WSDL schemas into usable forms and responses, we helped a fast-moving startup scale their SOAP integration layer with speed and confidence.
Dealing with legacy complexity? We build the tools to tame it. Let’s talk.
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