[FileAPI] Latest Revision of Editor's Draft

The latest revision of the FileAPI editor's draft is available here:

http://dev.w3.org/2006/webapi/FileAPI/

These changes constitute a substantial reworking of the original API 
along the lines of the "Alternative File API" proposal [1].  There are 
also some additional changes that are worth pointing out explicitly:

1. This editor's draft now resides in a new location in CVS.  
Essentially, previous repository names had "FileUpload" in them and were 
confusing, since the API in question had less to do with *uploading a 
file* than *reading* a file.  "FileAPI" is shorter and more intuitive 
(and better describes what we're doing).  Previous drafts are worth 
keeping as historical artifacts reflecting the decision making of the 
WG, and so now include a caveat on them pointing them to the draft above.

2. Interface names have changed (notably FileData --> Blob) since the 
underlying FileData interface had uses on the platform beyond a file 
read API.  "Blob" as an interface name was first introduced by a Google 
Gears API, which I cite as an informative reference.

3. The event model resembles that of XHR2, with a few differences.  
Notably, the APIs differ in their use of the 'loadend' ProgressEvent.

4. A suggestion to *not* have a separate scheme ("filedata:") in lieu of 
urn:uuid:<uuid>[2] has been the basis of a rewrite of that feature in 
this version of the specification.

I don't anticipate the event model will be controversial, having seen a 
fair amount of discussion on the listserv.  But I do anticipate feedback 
about 4., as well as the remaining editor's notes.

Looking forward to discussion of this API on this listserv and at the 
upcoming TPAC :)

-- A*
[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-webapps/2009JulSep/0565.html
[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-webapps/2009OctDec/0091.html

Received on Monday, 26 October 2009 12:24:47 UTC