Scripting News

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 00:32:15 GMT

Brent Simmons has a feature request for the MetaWeblog API.

Lookin for a job? ICANN is lookin for a new CEO.

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 20:17:53 GMT

Bret Fausett thinks I should apply.

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 20:06:22 GMT

Jon Udell: Debugging SOAP.

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 19:03:00 GMT

Matt Haughey: "The arms race has officially begun."

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 18:55:05 GMT

Here's a little (up till now) secret. I've been in NY all week. Flew out on Sunday to be with the family and my dad who's been in the hospital all month. It's been a tough experience. A friend described turning the corner to go into her father's hospital room as an "emotional bungie jump." Amen to that. The sparse posts here are because my attention is focused on family issues. I'm trying to point to other weblogs that are active with on-topic stuff for Scripting News. Send me pointers, and I'll try to link you into the flow.

REST vs SOAP

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 18:51:51 GMT

I was asked by a reporter to explain the "debate" about SOAP vs REST. Here's what I said.

SOAP and XML-RPC were started to make it easy to build applications that viewed the Internet as if it were a LAN. It builds on the philosophy of personal computers.

REST was a retrofit by people who don't like personal computers to try to stop progress in building GUI software that ran over the Internet. Too little too late. SOAP is a good idea. Has been a good idea for a long time.

The distinction between SOAP and REST is minimal. If they would just roll up their sleeves and build some toolkits they could stop complaining about SOAP. But the people who promote REST aren't people who actively develop software. If they were there would be no "debate."