Finally Atom

Revised milestones

• Done          First Atom feed format Internet Draft
• Done          First Atom editing protocol Internet Draft
• Done          Request Last Call for Atom feed format
• Jun 05         Submit Atom feed format to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard
• Oct 05         Request Last Call for Atom editing protocol
• Nov 05        Submit Atom editing protocol to IESG for consideration as a Proposed Standard

Why did they do that?

This is a popular question to follow the release of a new spec draft, such as The Atom Syndication Format.

Most discussion (the only official discussion) happens on the high-volume atom-syntax mailing list (there is now an atom-protocol list too), the most significant parts being in relation to the Proposals ("Paces") presented on the Wiki. These have been dealt with in something approaching an orderly fashion by the chair's organization of the AtomPubIssuesList.

Proposals are only accepted once the chair believes there is significant consensus, if there is deadlock then the issue gets passed back to 'revisit'. In many cases to date, modified or totally new proposals have been drafted around which consensus can form.

(thanks for the prompt, Brad)

New Co-editor

Mark Nottingham has announced that Robert Sayre will be joining him as co-editor of the Atom Syndication Format documentation.

Atom Protocol mailing list

The sheer volume of messages on the atom-syntax mailing list has made it necessary to set up a second list to concentrate on development of the protocol. Framed as a "design team" (with open membership, see PaceProtocolDesignTeam2) the aim is to complete all the actions that are required to specify the Atom protocol according to the atompub IETF charter. Discussion will take place on the atom-protocol mailing list.

AtomPubIssuesList

Updated issue list on the Wiki, maintained by Sam. Each issue has its own page, here they're divided into the categories: Close, Proceed, Revisit, Accepted, Closed.

Any opinions on these, or anything else, post them to the list. It's a consensus thing, so don't forget not to vote!

AtomPubIssuesList - Atom Wiki

Atompub WG Work Plan

Atompub WG Work Plan - Tim Bray, to atom-syntax mailing list.

GOALS:
- First draft revisions by July 2nd, clearly marked "do not implement"
- Drafts with the "do not implement" mark removed published by Halloween

See also: AtomPubIssuesList (and explanatory post from Sam)

Timing

Tim and I are ferverently hoping that the next version of the format and protocol documents come out in the next two weeks, and have one round of revisions before the cut-off date before the IETF meeting, which is July 19. This is an aggressive schedule, and it means that many open issues will still be open in the drafts. This is a Good Thing.

Paul Hoffman, on atom-syntax.

IETF-Approved

I've just been informed that today the IESG met and approved the creation of an IETF Atom Working Group...
Tim Bray on atom-syntax

W3C Charter unofficial draft

A draft of what could be an Atom WG Charter at W3C, written with the participation of W3C Team members including Dan Brickley, Karl Dubost, Max Froumentin, Matt May.
W3cCharter - Atom Wiki

Atom-W3C chat in NYC

Matt May :
Those of us at the WWW2004 conference gathered together this morning over pastry which was not entirely unlike what could be found in France. We tried hashing out a lot of the issues involved in standardizing Atom, what the W3C process involves and does not involve, and related material.
Minutes from Atom discussion, New York City, 18 May 2004 telecon, 18 May 04