It's amazing how some people often like to publically make a complete joke out of themselves, and on a regular basis at that. Dave Winer has an idea; to merge the two XML syndication formats, RSS and Atom, into one format. If you can't beat 'em, join'em, and all that.
Let's not forget, folks, that Dave Winer has tried to stop the creative ideas behind the Atom project several times, his obsession with RSS sometimes results in very eerie but funny comments.
So, how would this "merger" work? Well, Dave has outlined some ideas, which I've paraphrased:
- The format would be renamed to RSS/Atom.
- The format would have a great solid spec, like Atom has.
- The format would be managed by IETF, like they're planning to do with Atom.
- The format would be backwards compatible with RSS 2.0.
- The format would differ from RSS 2.0 as little as possible.
So, basically, Dave is suggesting that the Atom syndication format should be dropped, everybody should just use RSS, but rename it RSS/Atom, and go with it in the direction Atom is going... (except he took the part about IETF back in the comments) I bet Dave is sitting in his office, on his high-calorie ass, chuckling to himself about his grand scheme.
- Hee hee, I'm going to trick them into dropping Atom. I'm sooo smart!
So here's the chance to do something good for the Internet, something not evil. Let's go Google, let's go SixApart, it's time to bury the hatchet and move on. Joi Ito, you're famous for being an advocate of peace. RSS is here to stay and so are Google and Movable Type. Let's all acknowledge that and stop this fight now. Dave Winer
First of all, who is Dave to suggest doing anything with RSS, I thought he said he didn't own the format? That RSS is free as a bird and that he can't change it on a whim? Does this man not understand that actions speak louder than words?
Secondly, what fight? As far as I know, the Atom-people aren't bent on world domination, like Dave is. The Atom-people aren't saying that RSS should roll over and die immediately, and that the very existance of RSS is detrimental to, oh I don't know, the very foundations of the free internet. The Atom-people are creating the syndication-format and the API that they want to use, they're not trying to device a plan to take over the world.
I mean, for chrissake, have some dignity, Dave!
Comments
My first thought exactly. It's like he's smelling defeat (against imaginary opponents, nevertheless) and deviced this plan to get his enemies to hand over the keys to their cars.
It's a problem for at least one aggregator that the top level item in Atom is called "feed"
Uhm, that's what namespaces are for, Dave?
Comment by Johan Svensson at 17:34, 11 Mar, 2004 #
Let's not forget that the Atom working group is trying to define more than a news feed protocol. They have defined the following for the working group.
a) A conceptual model of a log entry.
b) A concrete syntax for this model.
c) A syndication format using this syntax.
d) An archiving format using this syntax.
e) A weblog editing protocol using this syntax (the Atom API)
The loosely defined RSS spec is only about one quarter of what Atom is proposed to be. Which makes it even harder for me to understand why Dave says "The format would differ from RSS 2.0 as little as possible."
Comment by Rafael Pelayo at 20:33, 11 Mar, 2004 #
I had recently been wondering when you would again make an effort to 'stem the tide' that is Winer.
Dave is an idiot, a big baby who doesn't want to let go of his blankie. He asks why Google [or anyone] would want to do away with RSS in favor of something else. RSS is out there, people are using it he says. Hey you know what Dave? Bullshit. People are using IE too. But it's not the best solution is it? Lest you forget, we've been over this already. Pilgrim spelled it out clearly enough: leave rss alone it's a 'good enough' format IF you 'shoehorn extra stuff into it'.
In its present incarnation, RSS is not for everyone. That's where Atom came in. Understand that Dave. Your 'plan' ignores all of that, and -- just as you say Tomas -- should be seen for what it is: a ploy to sweep Atom under the carpet.
Winer says "RSS is here to stay". Wrong again Dave. Syndication is our new little toy, not any one format or generation thereof.
Comment by Ryan at 21:43, 11 Mar, 2004 #
This is a joke right!
What he calls a RFC is a blatant opportunity to ruin a up and coming standard!
The Atom spec is more than what RSS will be, and merging them both, "keeping the syntax close to RSS 2.0" is just giving it a sweet kiss of death. And all of this in the name of peaceful coexistence and "better future"! Thanks Dave, but no thanks.
And there is also the subtle hint at wide spread RSS use as if to acertain a moral superiority!
What is worthwhile here is that Dave is acknowledging that some good work is being done with the Atom spec and that its worthy competition for RSS. To me competition is good.
Comment by Sunny at 06:30, 14 Mar, 2004 #
The discussion has been closed on this entry. Thanks to everybody who participated.