Atom Publishing Format and Protocol (atompub)

Last Modified: 2007-08-15

Additional information is available at tools.ietf.org/wg/atompub

Chair(s):

  • Paul Hoffman <paul.hoffman@vpnc.org>

  • Tim Bray <tbray@textuality.com>

    Applications Area Director(s):

  • Chris Newman <chris.newman@sun.com>
  • Lisa Dusseault <lisa@osafoundation.org>

    Applications Area Advisor:

  • Lisa Dusseault <lisa@osafoundation.org>

    Secretary(ies):

  • Sam Ruby <rubys@intertwingly.net>

    Mailing Lists:

    General Discussion: atom-syntax@imc.org
    To Subscribe: atom-syntax-request@imc.org
    In Body: In Body: subscribe
    Archive: http://www.imc.org/atom-syntax/mail-archive/

    Description of Working Group:

    Atom defines a feed format for representing and a protocol for
    editing Web resources such as Weblogs, online journals, Wikis,
    and similar content. The feed format enables syndication; that
    is, provision of a channel of information by representing
    multiple resources in a single document. The editing protocol
    enables agents to interact with resources by nominating a way of
    using existing Web standards in a pattern.

    Atom consists of:
        * A conceptual model of a resource
        * A concrete syntax for this model
        * A syndication and archiving format (the Atom
            feed format) using this syntax
        * An editing protocol using this syntax

    The format must be able to represent:
        * a resource that is a Weblog entry or article (e.g., it has
            an author, date, identifier, and content)
        * a feed or channel of entries, with or without enclosed
            content
        * a complete archive of all entries in a feed
        * existing well-formed XML (especially XHTML) content
        * additional information in an user-extensible manner

    The editing protocol must enable:
        * creating, editing, and deleting feed entries
        * multiple authors for a feed
        * multiple subjects or categories in a feed
        * user authentication
        * adding, editing, and deleting users
        * setting and getting user preferences
        * creating, getting and setting related resources such as
            comments, templates, etc.

    The working group will use experience gained with RSS (variably
    used as a name by itself and as an acronym for "RDF Site Summary",
    "Rich Site Summary", or "Really Simple Syndication") as the basis
    for a standards-track document specifying the model, syntax, and
    feed format. The feed format and HTTP will be used as the basis
    of work on a standards-track document specifying the editing
    protocol. The goal for the working group is to produce a single
    feed format and a single editing protocol; the working group will
    only consider additional formats or additional protocols if those
    charter changes are approved by the IESG.

    The working group will also take steps to ensure interoperability, by:
        * unambiguously identifying required elements in formats
        * clearly nominating conformance levels for different types of
            software
        * providing clear extensibility mechanisms and constraints upon
            them

    The Atom protocol will be designed to provide security services
    for updating and accessing dynamic online resources. The working
    group will consider current known issues with requirements for
    remote access, along with the fact that many such resources are
    constrained by providers who provide the resource owners with
    little configuration control.

    The working group's primary focus will be on delivering an
    interoperable format and corresponding protocol; it is expected
    that all but the most basic, generic metadata and functions will be
    accommodated through extensions, rather than in the core documents.

    Extension development is not included in this charter. The working
    group will consider the need to either close or to modify the charter
    and document extensions once the core document set has been approved
    by the IESG.

    The working group has two mailing lists: atom-syntax@imc.org for
    discussing the Atom format and atom-protocol@imc.org for discussing the
    protocol.

    Goals and Milestones:

    Done  First Atom feed format Internet Draft
    Done  First Atom editing protocol Internet Draft
    Done  Request Last Call for Atom feed format
    Done  Submit Atom feed format to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard
    Done  Request Last Call for Atom editing protocol
    Done  Submit Atom editing protocol to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard

    No Current Internet-Drafts

    Request For Comments:

    The Atom Syndication Format (RFC 4287) (81922 bytes)
    The Atom Publishing Protocol (RFC 5023) (102274 bytes)
    IETF Secretariat - Please send questions, comments, and/or suggestions to ietf-web@ietf.org.

    Return to working group directory.

    Return to IETF home page.