[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message]

Re: need for defining standard APIs for xml storage

• From: "KenNorth" <KenNorth@e...>
• To: <xml-dev@x...>, "Ken MacLeod" <ken@b...>
• Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 12:20:15 -0700

> As you likely know, HTTP defines not only a protocol, but also one set
> of APIs used on top of that protocol: GET, PUT, HEAD, etc.

RFC2616 describes GET, POST, TRACE, etc. as methods, but my view is they are
standard requests or message types. They are analogous to EDI using 850 for
a purchase order, for example.

Protocol specifications often define standard content, such as GET, an IP
address, or a CRC checksum, just as the XML and SGML specs define standard
content.

Do you consider <!DOCTYPE ERRORS SYSTEM "mybad.dtd"> an API?

> simply because it doesn't fit one's preconceived notions as to "what
> is an API" seems to be a grievous error.

Probably not my first, but I'll accept the risk of making a grievous error.
The industry suffers from imprecise language. To me there is a distinction
between protocol and API, and there is no value in blurring the distinction.







***************************************************************************
This is xml-dev, the mailing list for XML developers.
To unsubscribe, mailto:majordomo@x...&BODY=unsubscribe%20xml-dev
List archives are available at http://xml.org/archives/xml-dev/
***************************************************************************

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: need for defining standard APIs for xml storage
    • From: Ken MacLeod <ken@b...>

• References:
  • Parser Behaviour (serious)
    • From: Peter Murray-Rust <peter@u...>
  • Re: need for defining standard APIs for xml storage
    • From: "KenNorth" <KenNorth@e...>
  • Re: need for defining standard APIs for xml storage
    • From: Ken MacLeod <ken@b...>
  • Re: need for defining standard APIs for xml storage
    • From: "KenNorth" <KenNorth@e...>

• Prev by Date: RE: Array content model (more like a collection)
• Next by Date: Re: Array content model
• Previous by thread: Re: need for defining standard APIs for xml storage
• Next by thread: Re: need for defining standard APIs for xml storage
• Index(es):
  • Date
  • Thread