[jdev] An old pseudo standard, but is it still good?

[Peter Saint-Andre]

Daniel Henninger wrote:
> Hi folk,
> 
> Today I was having a discussion with another developer about one of the
> 'standards' that's been in place for a little while and it got me
> waffling back and forth as to whether it's a "good" standard or not. 
> I'll get right to the point:
> 
> MSN username: fakeuser at ninja.com
> Jabber MSN translated JID: fakeuser%ninja.com at msn.jabber.fake.org
> 
> So where did this use of % come from?  It seems to work out well, and
> has been used in many places, but I don't see it in any XEPs or anything
> like that (nothing formal).  

We talk about it in XEP-0100, no?

> By the same token, if you look at XEP-0106,
> it seems like what -should- have happened is:
> 
> Jabber MSN translated JID: fakeuser\40ninja.com at msn.jabber.fake.org
> 
> Now if a client 'renders' that, it looks like
> fakeuser at ninja.com@msn.jabber.fake.org, which is a tad confusing looking
> in it's own right.  

True. We need full s2s with all IM networks. Don't hold your breath. :-)

> Also, if you are typing a jid on the command line,
> assuming you had a command line client, that would be a pain to type. 

So don't use the command line. ;-)

> The argument there as that the client should handle the translation
> before sending it off to an XMPP server.. ie I would actually type
> fakeuser at ninja.com@msn.jabber.fake.org.  

I think the end user would never type the JID. The end user would be
presented with an interface like this:

1. Choose a network:
   - AIM
   - ICQ
   - Jabber
   - MSN
   - Yahoo

2. Type an address:
   __________________

The client then adds the \40 (or old-style %) if needed based on the
network.

> Such things are a little
> confusing to look at, and possibly to parse, but which is "better"? 
> Obviously \40 appears to be the formal way as it's in an actual XEP.

That would be the best way to handle things in the future, I think.

> So should those of us in the transport developing world begin the
> process of moving from % to \40?

IMHO yes.

> Where did % come from?  Why is it a pseudo standard to date?

It's also been used in the email world etc. It's an ugly hack but it
works (sort of).

/psa

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: smime.p7s
Type: application/x-pkcs7-signature
Size: 7358 bytes
Desc: S/MIME Cryptographic Signature
URL: <https://www.jabber.org/jdev/attachments/20061116/9e92189b/attachment-0002.bin>