RE: [wsia][wsia-requirements][R602]

From
Sean Fitts <>
Date
2002-05-08T15:23:18+00:00
ID
Thread
RE: [wsia][wsia-requirements][R602]
I would completely agree that we should avoid customization of 

*binary* formats for the first release.  However, I agree with
Elion

that even if we might like to (and personally I don't), we cannot

treat JavaScript as a binary for this purpose.  

Beyond the fact that it *isn't* binary, as Elion points out it is
just

used way too much.  In fact, the use of JavaScript to
dynamically

generate not just validation logic, but entire UI's is increasing 
in

usage (just take a look at the recent product releases from both

Siebel and PeopleSoft).  

IMO, if the WSIA is going to be at all relevant, we have to acknowledge

and allow for the current best practices.  If to become WSIA
compliant,

companies must completely re-write their existing applications, 
then

WSIA adoption will be seriously impeded. 

To me this means that we must allow for customization of JavaScript

and not just for action routing purposes.

Sean

At 10:57 AM 5/8/2002 -0400, Eilon Reshef wrote:

Ravi,

 

I think that your
observation that JavaScript is essentially "yet another binary
format" catches the bull by its horns - in a way, that sharpens the
question.

 

It more than makes sense
- in my view - to ignore customization of binary formats for the first
release (at least by the Consumer, the Producer can always hand-code
anything). 

 

However, to me,
supporting action routing in JavaScript (even if not transparently) is a
must. (There are way too many apps that use JavaScript for links and
forms).

 

Eilon

-----Original Message-----
From: Ravi Konuru
[mailto:] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 9:59 AM
To: 
Subject: RE: [wsia][wsia-requirements][R602]

 Questions/comments: 
      - Is Java script being considered non-
binary in these discussions? 
From my perspective, it is binary.
 
       - Does "Should not" mean that we will "try" not to introduce in our 
specification assumptions about output of a service? This is not 
verifiable. I rather say we will initially focus on XML formats but will 
tackle binary formats in the next rev? However, don't like this option. see 
next. 
      - Should we define a set of guidelines for downloaded binary code to 
allow at least for routing if not for customization? I prefer this. Given 
the prevalence of downloaded code (script and flash). We should say what 
works and what doesn't.  
regards, 
Ravi Konuru 

                                                                                                                           
                      Rich                                                                                                 
                      Thompson/Watson/I        To:                                                
                      BM@IBMUS                 cc:                                                                         
                                               Subject:  RE: [wsia][wsia-requirements][R602]                               
                      05/06/2002 08:39                                                                                     
                      AM                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           

While I do think we need to think about how a Consumer can provide enough 
information that a Producer could embed action invocations and the like in 
binary formats, I think the last sentence needs to be a SHOULD NOT rather 
than a MUST NOT as it may not turn out to be feasible once we consider this 
for a multi-tiered chain of Producers and Consumer. 

                      Eilon Reshef 

                      <eilon.reshef@webc        To:       "'Alan Kropp'" 
<>, 
                      ollage.com>                 

                                                cc: 

                      05/06/2002 01:06          Subject:  RE: 
[wsia][wsia-requirements][R602] 
                      AM 

I'll put my 1.5 cents into this discussion, even though I didn't originally 
put my name for it :-) 

I think that it more than makes sense that we shouldn't ask the Consumer to 
parse and modify Flash content, Java applets, or any other binary format. 

The question in my mind (regarding the actual intent of this requirement) 
is: should the WSIA protocol *permit* some sequence of calls in which a 
WSIA Web Service that contains Flash/Java/ActiveX with links or forms would 
still work, even though it has user interaction, and even though "smart 
look-and-feel customization" (whatever this is) will not be offered. 

This point - although seemingly minor - may have significant implications 
on the actual protocol with regards to action routing. 

If we do decide that binary formats should be supported even at a basic 
level, then (at least according to my possibly limited understanding) this 
means that we must provide at least some way (not necessarily the 
"mainstream" way) for the Consumer to provide enough information to the 
Producer (who serves the binary data) so that the binary content is served 
in such a way in which all the actions are routed correctly to the 
Consumer. This means that the Producer has to take care of it, but it would 
make it doable. 

We at WebCollage have encountered some cases where people used Flash for 
parts of their applications, so it made sense for us to consider it. 
However, we need to decide whether this is something that the WSIA 
committee as a whole cares about. 

Eilon 
      -----Original Message----- 
      From: Alan Kropp [mailto:] 
      Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 8:41 PM 
      To: '' 
      Subject: [wsia][wsia-requirements][R602] 

      R602 [Flexibility] 
                      This specification should support common Presentation 

      Formats, which are in use today in Net-enabled applications. In 
      particular, 
      it should support HTML, XHTML, WML and XML as Presentation Formats. 
      It must 
      not preclude the use of other presentation formats (Eilon: such as 
      Flash, 
      GIFs, etc.). Debate on last sentence: AK, CW. 

      I think only XML and HTML (due to its ubiquity) markups should be 
      supported 
      by name, other formats should be considered opaque in the markup 
      stream. 
      Last sentence should read: 

       It must not preclude the use of other presentation formats, although 
      these 
      (e.g., Flash, GIFs, etc.) shall be considered opaque in the markup 
      stream. 

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