Re: Negotiating compression

Hi,

On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 7:54 PM, Martin Thomson
<martin.thomson@gmail.com> wrote:
> The long and rambling thread on schedule has again started to discuss
> HPACK.  A point was made regarding negotiation for its use.
>
> I don't think that negotiation is necessary.  The argument regarding
> the physics, which would dictate the use of an entire RTT for
> negotiation, is compelling, but I have others.  The only reason you
> want negotiation is if you want to be able to influence the behaviour
> of a counterparty.
>
> A sizable advantage can be gained by modifying your own behaviour,
> which HPACK always permits.  Given that the data you care most about
> protecting is usually the stuff that you send, I'm willing to bet that
> this is good enough in the unlikely event that an attack is
> discovered.

Can you please expand on what is plan B in the unlikely event ?
I am guessing that it would require to bump the HTTP version, and a
worldwide update of all servers to the new version (or drop to HTTP
1.1) ?

Also, if a different, better, header compression algorithm is found,
that also would require a HTTP version bump ?

I'd really like to be as confident as you are, but I'd like to have a
plan B for one of the most used protocols in the world.
So far, IIUC, there is no plan B, right ?

-- 
Simone Bordet
http://bordet.blogspot.com
---
Finally, no matter how good the architecture and design are,
to deliver bug-free software with optimal performance and reliability,
the implementation technique must be flawless.   Victoria Livschitz

Received on Wednesday, 28 May 2014 09:42:07 UTC