I always have been a
pusher for the simplification, especially for writing things in terms of HTTP
(since last fall). DDDS was much too complex, and required too much knowledge
on behalf of the readers.
There is couple of things
to think about though:
(1) This proposal calls for at least several HTTP
communications to potentially different host. This is a rather expensive
operation. What would be the down side for letting the first contact server try
to resolve the authority section in its entirety from the cache?
(Non-authoritative answer).
(2) In Gabe’s proposal, GET is used, but what
about using POST? This allows more complex data to be sent from the client for
query. For example, sending XML formatted request. This allows the extensibility
as well as setting many options. It can incorporate the signature from the
client as well. It is going to be a good hook for the security extension as
well. More over, we may be able to make the resolution just another web service:
same as other XNS services. This is better from the point of view of symmetry. Also,
it is going to be less cryptic for the reader. This is a big gain.
Cheers,
Nat
-----Original Message-----
From: Wachob, Gabe
[mailto:]
Sent: Thursday,
September 04, 2003 3:26
AM
To: ''
Subject: [xri] Resolution
Simplification
XRI Members-
Its
become rather clear to me that one of the impediments to getting feedback on
the XRI spec is the density of the Resolution section and its reliance on DNS
technologies thats folks are very unfamiliar with (e.g. DDDS).
Towards
the goal of getting XRI traction, I'm proposing a much simpler resolution
process that focuses almost entirely on HTTP rather than trying to provide a
framework for pluggable resolution. This proposal is 6 pages long (rather than
the current 15-16 pages). No flowcharts!
I've
spoken with Dave McAlpin and we've got a pretty clear path for doing secure
resolution with it as well. My proposal doesn't lay out those details, but
rather suggests where the hooks are for doing secure resolution.
I'm
pretty confident that this simplification is a great step forward as it makes
resolution a much more conventional process that relies more directly on HTTP.
Please
see the attached document and send feedback to the list or to myself. No decision
has been made (obviously), but I'm hoping this proposal gets a general initial
thumbs up. Its certainly a lot more understandable. Section 3.1 of the -07
draft is largely still applicable - so it might be useful to read that before
you read this proposal.
-Gabe
