So this one is a bit weird to me - even if you specific some on-the-wire format it still has to conform to a model of some sorts - even if it's implicit. Perhaps the following refinements below might be of help: Meta-model - model constraints OCCI: have one, if any, and simple see [1]. Model - what you can express in a graph, constrained by meta-model OCCI: have one and simple. Uses the collected nouns, verbs and attributes in [1]. Model instance - a user created graph based on concepts described in the model OCCI: a library in a particular language that creates an in-memory model and outputs a serialisation and performs the reverse. Model serialisation - on-the-wire format OCCI: defer to Richard's "Format 2" email thread. HTH, Andy [1] http://forge.ogf.org/sf/wiki/do/viewPage/projects.occi-wg/wiki/NounsVerbsAnd... -----Original Message----- From: occi-wg-bounces@ogf.org [mailto:occi-wg-bounces@ogf.org] On Behalf Of Richard Davies Sent: 13 May 2009 15:40 To: occi-wg@ogf.org Subject: [occi-wg] Format 1: Wire format or abstract model Thijs has asked me to split out the four decisions into separate e-mail threads, hoping to separate the discussion of each independent question. So here goes - please try to separately your replies to each question and reply to the appropriate threads: Decision 1: Should OCCI specify wire format(s) or an abstract model: a) The OCCI API will be defined in terms of a specific rendering of the nouns, verbs and attributes to the actual bytes transferred on the wire. b) The OCCI API will be defined in terms of the abstract model (both nouns, verbs and attributes, and possibly also meta-model around these). Any implementation of this model is OCCI-compliant, regardless of the bytes on the wire. Perspective of myself and Alexis: OCCI should specify wire format(s), since this is the only way to guarantee in-practice interoperability between OCCI-compliant clouds. _______________________________________________ occi-wg mailing list occi-wg@ogf.org http://www.ogf.org/mailman/listinfo/occi-wg ------------------------------------------------------------- Intel Ireland Limited (Branch) Collinstown Industrial Park, Leixlip, County Kildare, Ireland Registered Number: E902934 This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential material for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies.