Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub) Working Group Formed

Date:      Wed, 16 Jun 2004 11:09:55 -0400
From:      The IESG <iesg-secretary@ietf.org>
To:        IETF-Announce:
Cc:        atom-syntax@imc.org, Paul Hoffman <paul.hoffman@vpnc.org>,
           Tim Bray <tbray@textuality.com>
Subject:   WG Action: Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub)

A new IETF working group has been formed in the Applications Area. For additional information, please contact the Area Directors or the WG Chairs.

Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub)

Current Status: Active Working Group

Chair(s)

Paul Hoffman <paul.hoffman@vpnc.org>
Tim Bray <tbray@textuality.com>

Applications Area Director(s)

Ted Hardie <hardie@qualcomm.com>
Scott Hollenbeck <sah@428cobrajet.net>

Applications Area Advisor

Scott Hollenbeck <sah@428cobrajet.net>

Secretary(ies)

Sam Ruby <rubys@intertwingly.net>

Mailing Lists

General Discussion: atom-syntax@imc.org
To Subscribe: atom-syntax-request@imc.org
In Body: subscribe
Archive: http://www.imc.org/atom-syntax/mail-archive/

Description of Working Group

Atom defines a feed format for representing and a protocol for editing Web resources such as Weblogs, online journals, Wikis, and similar content. The feed format enables syndication; that is, provision of a channel of information by representing multiple resources in a single document. The editing protocol enables agents to interact with resources by nominating a way of using existing Web standards in a pattern.

Atom consists of:

A conceptual model of a resource
A concrete syntax for this model
A syndication and archiving format (the Atom feed format) using this syntax
An editing protocol using this syntax

The format must be able to represent:

a resource that is a Weblog entry or article (e.g., it has an author, date, identifier, and content)
a feed or channel of entries, with or without enclosed content
a complete archive of all entries in a feed
existing well-formed XML (especially XHTML) content
additional information in an user-extensible manner

The editing protocol must enable:

creating, editing, and deleting feed entries
multiple authors for a feed
multiple subjects or categories in a feed
user authentication
adding, editing, and deleting users
setting and getting user preferences
creating, getting and setting related resources such as comments, templates, etc.

The working group will use experience gained with RSS (variably used as a name by itself and as an acronym for "RDF Site Summary", "Rich Site Summary", or "Really Simple Syndication") as the basis for a standards-track document specifying the model, syntax, and feed format. The feed format and HTTP will be used as the basis of work on a standards-track document specifying the editing protocol. The goal for the working group is to produce a single feed format and a single editing protocol; the working group will only consider additional formats or additional protocols if those charter changes are approved by the IESG.

The working group will also take steps to ensure interoperability, by:

unambiguously identifying required elements in formats
clearly nominating conformance levels for different types of software
providing clear extensibility mechanisms and constraints upon them

The Atom protocol will be designed to provide security services for updating and accessing dynamic online resources. The working group will consider current known issues with requirements for remote access, along with the fact that many such resources are constrained by providers who provide the resource owners with little configuration control.

The working group's primary focus will be on delivering an interoperable format and corresponding protocol; it is expected that all but the most basic, generic metadata and functions will be accommodated through extensions, rather than in the core documents.

Extension development is not included in this charter. The working group will consider the need to either close or to modify the charter and document extensions once the core document set has been approved by the IESG.

Goals and Milestones

Jun 04    First Atom feed format Internet Draft
Jun 04    First Atom editing protocol Internet Draft
Mar 05    Request Last Call for Atom feed format
Mar 05    Request Last Call for Atom editing protocol
Apr 05    Submit Atom feed format to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard
Apr 05    Submit Atom editing protocol to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See additional references in the 2004-06-16 news story: "IETF Forms New Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub) Working Group."

SEARCH Advanced Search ABOUT Site Map CP RSS Channel Contact Us Sponsoring CP About Our Sponsors NEWS Cover Stories Articles & Papers Press Releases CORE STANDARDS XML SGML Schemas XSL/XSLT/XPath XLink XML Query CSS SVG TECHNOLOGY REPORTS XML Applications General Apps Government Apps Academic Apps EVENTS LIBRARY Introductions FAQs Bibliography Technology and Society Semantics Tech Topics Software Related Standards Historic	Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub) Working Group Formed Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub) Working Group Formed Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 11:09:55 -0400 From: The IESG <iesg-secretary@ietf.org> To: IETF-Announce: Cc: atom-syntax@imc.org, Paul Hoffman <paul.hoffman@vpnc.org>, Tim Bray <tbray@textuality.com> Subject: WG Action: Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub) A new IETF working group has been formed in the Applications Area. For additional information, please contact the Area Directors or the WG Chairs. Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub) Current Status: Active Working Group Chair(s) Paul Hoffman <paul.hoffman@vpnc.org> Tim Bray <tbray@textuality.com> Applications Area Director(s) Ted Hardie <hardie@qualcomm.com> Scott Hollenbeck <sah@428cobrajet.net> Applications Area Advisor Scott Hollenbeck <sah@428cobrajet.net> Secretary(ies) Sam Ruby <rubys@intertwingly.net> Mailing Lists General Discussion: atom-syntax@imc.org To Subscribe: atom-syntax-request@imc.org In Body: subscribe Archive: http://www.imc.org/atom-syntax/mail-archive/ Description of Working Group Atom defines a feed format for representing and a protocol for editing Web resources such as Weblogs, online journals, Wikis, and similar content. The feed format enables syndication; that is, provision of a channel of information by representing multiple resources in a single document. The editing protocol enables agents to interact with resources by nominating a way of using existing Web standards in a pattern. Atom consists of: A conceptual model of a resource A concrete syntax for this model A syndication and archiving format (the Atom feed format) using this syntax An editing protocol using this syntax The format must be able to represent: a resource that is a Weblog entry or article (e.g., it has an author, date, identifier, and content) a feed or channel of entries, with or without enclosed content a complete archive of all entries in a feed existing well-formed XML (especially XHTML) content additional information in an user-extensible manner The editing protocol must enable: creating, editing, and deleting feed entries multiple authors for a feed multiple subjects or categories in a feed user authentication adding, editing, and deleting users setting and getting user preferences creating, getting and setting related resources such as comments, templates, etc. The working group will use experience gained with RSS (variably used as a name by itself and as an acronym for "RDF Site Summary", "Rich Site Summary", or "Really Simple Syndication") as the basis for a standards-track document specifying the model, syntax, and feed format. The feed format and HTTP will be used as the basis of work on a standards-track document specifying the editing protocol. The goal for the working group is to produce a single feed format and a single editing protocol; the working group will only consider additional formats or additional protocols if those charter changes are approved by the IESG. The working group will also take steps to ensure interoperability, by: unambiguously identifying required elements in formats clearly nominating conformance levels for different types of software providing clear extensibility mechanisms and constraints upon them The Atom protocol will be designed to provide security services for updating and accessing dynamic online resources. The working group will consider current known issues with requirements for remote access, along with the fact that many such resources are constrained by providers who provide the resource owners with little configuration control. The working group's primary focus will be on delivering an interoperable format and corresponding protocol; it is expected that all but the most basic, generic metadata and functions will be accommodated through extensions, rather than in the core documents. Extension development is not included in this charter. The working group will consider the need to either close or to modify the charter and document extensions once the core document set has been approved by the IESG. Goals and Milestones Jun 04 First Atom feed format Internet Draft Jun 04 First Atom editing protocol Internet Draft Mar 05 Request Last Call for Atom feed format Mar 05 Request Last Call for Atom editing protocol Apr 05 Submit Atom feed format to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard Apr 05 Submit Atom editing protocol to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See additional references in the 2004-06-16 news story: "IETF Forms New Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub) Working Group."