(Cross-posted on my O'Reilly weblog. )
In a Sun InnerCircle publication Sun Chief Technology Evangelist Simon Phipps writes:
Still, despite wide consensus, the technologies usually associated with Web services are not actually standards or recommendations of any open standards organization. To the surprise of many, Web services are not just about SOAP and things that start with WS-*, as some vendors would like you to believe. Some of the most widespread Web services today — for instance, those in use by the fast-growing Web-logging ('blogging') community — are based on other technologies like RSS and XML-RPC.
I'm glad to finally see a major technology vendor acknowledge SOAP etc. is not all there is to Web services and that RSS as a legitimate technology in that space. Given its emerging uses, RSS is not just a format for syndicating content. As I've written in the past and others have noted, RSS feeds do qualify under the principles of the REST architectural style that the Web was built on.
Simon's mention of weblogging raises a question I've been meaning to ask for some time. Are there any Sun employees blogging? Microsoft and IBM have a handful that I know of off the top of my head. Macromedia is the model corporate blogging citizen with some significant top brass ( Kevin Lynch and, until recently, Jeremy Allaire ) making regular posts.
If I haven't overlooked any Sun employees blogging, this is quite an oversight. Microsoft is not the only company that could use a human face.
UPDATE: In my original post I omitted that I think Apple's Safari developer extraordinaire David Hyatt weblogging his work and views is marvelous and another great example of bloggings potential in these firms. David's communications with his existing and potential user base not only interesting, but provide me with a sense of understanding and confidence in his (and Apple's) work.
Also, some Sun employee blog sightings are coming in via private email and the comments on my O'Reilly weblog entry. One of these includes Simon Phipp's own personal weblog.
Lastly, you may have noticed that I ignored Simon's mention of XML-RPC. While it certainly has its uses today, the limtiations I've come to know leads me to not support its proliferation going forward. Its flaws are serious. Today, in randomly surfacing around, I happened upon this rant
by Charles Cook on XML-RPC and weblogging APIs that covers some of the significant shortcomings quite well and figured I share the link and state my view.
<p>(Cross-posted on <a href="http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/1024">my O'Reilly weblog</a>. )</p>
<p>In a <a href="http://wwws.sun.com/software/sunone/innercircle/newsletter/cto0303.html">Sun InnerCircle publication</a> Sun Chief Technology Evangelist Simon Phipps writes:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Still, despite wide consensus, the technologies usually associated with Web services are not actually standards or recommendations of any open standards organization. To the surprise of many, Web services are not just about SOAP and things that start with WS-*, as some vendors would like you to believe. Some of the most widespread Web services today — for instance, those in use by the fast-growing Web-logging ('blogging') community — are based on other technologies like RSS and XML-RPC.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm glad to finally see a major technology vendor acknowledge SOAP etc. is not all there is to Web services and that RSS as a legitimate technology in that space. Given its emerging uses, RSS is not just a format for syndicating content. As <a href="http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/2360">I've written in the past</a> and <a href="http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/2653">others have noted</a>, RSS feeds do qualify under the principles of the REST architectural style that the Web was built on.</p>
<p>Simon's mention of weblogging raises a question I've been meaning to ask for some time. Are there any Sun employees blogging? Microsoft and IBM have a handful that I know of off the top of my head. Macromedia is the model corporate blogging citizen with some significant top brass ( <a href="http://www.klynch.com/">Kevin Lynch</a> and, until recently, <a href="http://radio.weblogs.com/0113297/">Jeremy Allaire</a> ) making regular posts.</p>
<p>If I haven't overlooked any Sun employees blogging, this is quite an oversight. <a href="http://weblog.infoworld.com/udell/2003/02/14">Microsoft is not the only company that could use a human face</a>.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE</strong>: In my original post I omitted that I think Apple's Safari developer extraordinaire <a href="http://www.mozillazine.org/weblogs/hyatt/">David Hyatt weblogging</a> his work and views is marvelous and another great example of bloggings potential in these firms. David's communications with his existing and potential user base not only interesting, but provide me with a sense of understanding and confidence in his (and Apple's) work.</p>
<p>Also, some Sun employee blog sightings are coming in via private email and <a href="http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/2967?page=last#thread">the comments on my O'Reilly weblog entry</a>. One of these includes <a href="http://www.webmink.net/?blog">Simon Phipp's own personal weblog</a>. </p>
<p>Lastly, you may have noticed that I ignored Simon's mention of XML-RPC. While it certainly has its uses today, the limtiations I've come to know leads me to not support its proliferation going forward. Its flaws are serious. Today, in randomly surfacing around, I happened upon <a href="http://www.cookcomputing.com/blog/archives/000226.html#226">this <q>rant</q></a> by Charles Cook on XML-RPC and weblogging APIs that covers some of the significant shortcomings quite well and figured I share the link and state my view. </p>
Leave a comment