On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 11:07 AM, Richard Davies <richard.davies@elastichosts.com> wrote:

Sam Johnston wrote:
> The reason we want a simple API is that it be approachable. It's easier
> for people write to SMTP, HTTP, etc. because they can kick the tyres and
> learn the ropes with telnet:

I absolutely agree with this, but regard it as an argument in favour of
POJ/POX over AtomPub.

<snip>

My feeling is that a POJ/POX rendering is a smaller amount of JSON/XML with
less wrapping around it, and will be much easier for people to get to know
by hand.

It's still something new though so you have that initial hurdle. By throwing their weight behind it, Microsoft and Google have ensured that AtomPub will be essential knowledge for cloud developers anyway.

IOW an AtomPub based protocol will be significantly easier to pick up than anything you might concoct yourselves (and I say "you yourselves" because it's overwhelmingly unlikely that I'll be playing a part in it for reasons previously explained).

AtomPub is already the HTTP of cloud computing IMO - it just needs some specification around search, caching, embedding, extension, etc. and it'll be everything we'll ever need and (not much) more.

Sam