[JDEV] possible defect in RosterList behavior

[Jay Chalfant]

I noticed today that I won't get any roster item updates from Jabber server
until I request the entire roster list. Specifically, unless I first do a 

<iq id="doroster_4" type="get">
  <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster" /> 
</iq>

I won't get roster updates as I make changes to the roster. I don't see any
documentation that justifies this behavior so I assume it is a defect. I
believe it should be considered a defect because the protocol should not
require a client to retrieve the roster list every time it connects just to
be able to use the roster list. (We have a specific justification for not
receiving the roster list on every request.)

Here is a sample sequence (ignore the xml annotation):

- <jabberproxy_add_buddy>
- <SEND>
  <presence type="subscribe" to="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com"
/> 
  </SEND>
- <SEND>
- <iq id="982087708" type="set">
- <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster">
  <item jid="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" name="_jchalfan" /> 
  </query>
  </iq>
  </SEND>
- <RECV>
  <iq id="982087708" type="result" from="a at billabong/I at P"
to="a at billabong/I at P" /> 
  </RECV>
- <RECV>
- <presence to="a at billabong"
from="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com">
  <status>Idle 0 Minutes</status> 
  </presence>
  </RECV>
  </jabberproxy_add_buddy>

This sequence occured in a session in which I had not requested the whole
roster list. If I do request the roster list first, I get what I consider is
a "normal" protocol behavior which includes the 4 (!) roster updates and the
reverse subscribe request as shown below.

- <winjab_add_buddy>
- <SENT>
- <iq id="JCOM_34" type="set">
- <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster">
- <item jid="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" name="jchalfan">
  <group /> 
  </item>
  </query>
  </iq>
  </SENT>
- <SENT>
- <presence to="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" type="subscribe">
  <status>Normal Subscription Request</status> 
  </presence>
  </SENT>
- <RECV>
- <iq type="set">
- <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster">
- <item jid="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" name="jchalfan"
subscription="none">
  <group /> 
  </item>
  </query>
  </iq>
  </RECV>
- <RECV>
  <iq id="JCOM_34" type="result" from="a at billabong/a_310"
to="a at billabong/a_310" /> 
- <iq type="set">
- <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster">
- <item jid="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" name="jchalfan"
subscription="none" ask="subscribe">
  <group /> 
  </item>
  </query>
  </iq>
- <presence to="a at billabong" type="subscribed"
from="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com">
  <status>Normal Subscription Request</status> 
  </presence>
- <iq type="set">
- <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster">
- <item jid="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" name="jchalfan"
subscription="to">
  <group /> 
  </item>
  </query>
  </iq>
- <presence to="a at billabong" type="subscribe"
from="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com">
  <status>Normal Subscription Request</status> 
  </presence>
- <presence to="a at billabong"
from="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com">
  <status>Idle 0 Minutes</status> 
  </presence>
  </RECV>
- <SENT>
  <presence to="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" type="subscribed"
/> 
  </SENT>
- <RECV>
- <iq type="set">
- <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster">
- <item jid="jchalfan at aimtrans.internal.outbackinc.com" name="jchalfan"
subscription="both">
  <group /> 
  </item>
  </query>
  </iq>
  </RECV>
  </winjab_add_buddy>

Can someone please clarify if this is a bug or a "feature".

thanks,

-J