Using OPTIONS for optional feature discovery -- advice

I am working on the next version of the HTTP PATCH method proposal:
http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-dusseault-http-patch-00.txt

We've had some discussions amongst WebDAV people of the best way for 
clients to discover server feature support.  In this case, the client 
wants to discover:
  - if the server supports PATCH at all
  - if so, what delta or diff formats can be used on this resource.

For that purpose, is a new header on OPTIONS still considered to be the 
way to go?  Can a server omit this header on responses to OPTIONS * if 
it only supports the feature in part of its namespace?  (E.g. if a java 
servlet supplies support for this feature only in the namespace hosted 
by that servlet)

Any other comments on the draft are welcome as well.

Thanks,
Lisa Dusseault

Received on Tuesday, 20 April 2004 21:21:34 UTC