Re: Notes on Web and Service Workers

I think, for purposes of replacing the packaging spec, the important point
is the ability to handle requests for specific resources. So, if a web app
loaded from http://foo.com/bar/myreader.html has a tag like <img
src="img1.jpg">, the browser goes out and asks foo.com for /bar/img1.jpg.
With service workers you can now have javascript intercept that request and
fulfill it with local data, a completely different image, something from a
package, etc. This replaces the packaging specs ability to have a single
blob with all the data already local - instead of defining how a browser
can load data from a specific cache, custom logic can be applied to every
load which is a more general solution. For instance, compression and
encryption can be handled by the service worker. It is also how web views
on Android and iOS already work, which is why it is easier to handle this
in native apps for those platforms. Basically it is exposing this useful
behavior to the web as a whole.

Caveat: I am not an expert in this area, and have not read the specs. I
don't really know the implementation details, or how content origins, etc
might impact all this.

On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 7:16 AM Nick Ruffilo <nickruffilo@gmail.com> wrote:

> Ivan,
>
> Web/Service workers can be some seriously complex topics, especially if
> you don't come from a computer science/linux background, but I'll try to
> explain them in completely "human" terms.
>
> Imagine your web page - instead of being a bunch of HTML/CSS/Javascript,
> being a person - lets say ME.  (obviously this is a bit of a
> simplification, but you'll get the point) When you first access that
> website, I create outlines for the objects based on the HTML code.  Then, I
> paint and manipulate how those objects based on the way they look (that's
> the CSS).  I'm one person, so I can only do one thing at a time.
>
> Next, once everything is laid down, I get to "work" (javascript).  As your
> mouse moves I check my list of instructions to see if I should be
> triggering an interaction, etc.  But I'm only 1 person.  Technically you
> can have me complete multiple tasks (have a clock that displays the time,
> play an animation, etc) but, for the most part, I have to figure out how to
> manage all of that with my arms and legs.
>
> In comes "Web/Service workers."  Lets say I'm getting really tired, I can
> call a "Web Worker" (temporary labor) to come handle some tasks for me.
> Since this is a new person, they can handle the tasks independent of what I
> am doing.  Since a web-worker is temporary labor, they will go away as soon
> as you close that page.
>
> Then we get into Service Workers.  Service workers are like butlers - they
> stick around even if you leave the page.  So, if you ask them to make you a
> sandwich (because you're so hungry from running so much javascript) the
> user can close the page, then come back later, and the butler is ready with
> the sandwich.
>
> Ultimately it comes down to THREADs.  A thread is a "line" of functions.
> Most of programming is linear: Execute this code, then move on to the
> next.  Repeat.  The issue is that if one task takes a long time, everything
> AFTER that gets delayed.  Creating a 2nd thread means work can still get
> done.  Today's chips can easily handle multi-threaded operations and excel
> at it.  Web workers are a way to easily define threads, whereas in the past
> you had to do it in a very "hacky" way using timers (in javascript).
>
> Hopefully this clears things up.  If anyone spots a flub by my
> explanation, please let me know!
>
> On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 8:24 AM, Ivan Herman <ivan@w3.org> wrote:
>
>> Tzviya, Markus,
>>
>> I have spent some time trying to get *some* idea on what Web Workers and
>> Service Workers are. They are spinning my head and I am sure there are many
>> details that I simply did not understand. Nevertheless, I thought it is
>> worthwhile jotting them down separately, because they might affect the
>> whole EPUB-WEB discussion:
>>
>> https://github.com/w3c/epubweb/wiki/Notes-on-Web-and-Service-Workers
>>
>> I would be pleased if somebody on the group, who has a better
>> understanding of these, could comment/update the file!
>>
>> Ivan
>>
>> ----
>> Ivan Herman, W3C
>> Digital Publishing Activity Lead
>> Home: http://www.w3.org/People/Ivan/
>> mobile: +31-641044153
>> ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0782-2704
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> - Nick Ruffilo
> @NickRuffilo
> http://Aerbook.com
> http://ZenOfTechnology.com <http://zenoftechnology.com/>
>
>