Re: My Favorite soapbox : XML linkage (was Re: [DotGNU]Jabber-thon)

[James Michael DuPont]

--- Gopal V <address@hidden> wrote:
> If memory serves me right, James Michael DuPont
> wrote:
> > My question is :
> > What if we want to create web services that can
> only
> > be used by GPLed programs? 
> 
> Should we ? .... that's another question which
> cannot 
> be answered easily ;)

Yes we should. In order to promote GPL we need to be
able to provide services that are only available to
Gpled clients.

That is the reason that GPL is so popular for the past
ten years. Now via dynamic linking an networking you
can go around it. 

Yes, we need to be able to securly exchange data
between GNU programs as if they are in the same memory
without worrying about unwanted parties listening.

I will say provocative : 
If DotGNU cannot provide such security, who will want
to use it? 
> 
> > XML/SOAP/XML-RPC is a function exporter, 
> > it allows for anyone to us the service.
> > 
> > The C linker is a function exporter,
> > it allows for anyone to link to and use the
> service.
> 
> Similar to the case of a C exporter ... it's the
> import
> step that's important . Once a person uses a builtin
> <rls>://<dotgnu_server>/<path> in a program that can
> be
> considered as linking. But a user typing in the URL
> cannot
> be called linking :)
> 
> As long as you use the same interfaces on both sides
> , it
> can be proved to be linking ..... if the interface
> be specific
> enough ... (I won't call Mozilla connection to IIS 5
> via HTTP
> linking)... But a connection to a Savannah's tech
> support / bug
> report section via an XMLRPC call is linking... but
> a perl webclient
> is not ;)


> 
> > Most people want to create services that can be
> used
> > by anyone or in a company. 
> 
> *exactly* -- we're against "Vendor Lockin" and we
> attempt a similar
> coup ?.
We need to be *able* to choose some services and
provide vendot lockin. Otherwise we cannot provide
them and will never be able to surivive.

> Execution via RPC is as similar to linking
> as IPC is to linking.
> Is IPC covered by GPL ?. Are pipes covered ? No !...
> So why should RPC
> be covered ?. 

> 
> The question is "Is RPC mere aggregation or a
> specific interface based
> linking ...." ... I have no answer ?.
> 
> Is grep "^<.*>" | sed "s/^<\([^>]*\)>\(.*\)$/\1 said
> : \2/g" mere aggregation
> or linking ?... no one can deny they work together

All I am saying is that we need to be able to create
interfaces that will be treated as if they were
linked. We need to be able to provide secure web
services to trusted users without worry. Otherwise we
will fail.

mike

=====
James Michael DuPont

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