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Clarifications about Person Service semantics
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Laurent-Walter Goix  
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 More options Dec 15 2011, 11:03 am
From: Laurent-Walter Goix <laurentwalter.g...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:03:11 -0800 (PST)
Local: Thurs, Dec 15 2011 11:03 am
Subject: Clarifications about Person Service semantics
hello all,

i am looking for clarifications when interpreting the Person Service
specification in the Social API spec. from the spec, the GET retrieves
profile details about a single person or a list of persons.The "create
relationship", which is mentioned as POST (i believe this is correct),
is also quite clear.

but i become a bit confused about the semantics of the other verbs &
functionalities:
- the "update" is mentioned as POST (not PUT?). i can understand a
user can update his own information with it. what about POSTing /@me/
@friends. the current spec allows for only 1 person object to be
included, so should this be understood at modifying the information of
that friend only? i guess in this case this information is not his own
profile information but a "(modified) copy" of it, am i right?
- the "delete" is the most unclear statement to me. given the spec it
seems that this is used for cancelling the user's own information. is
this to be understood as cancelling the user account (DELETE /@me/
@self) ?

in this situation i couldn't find any hint in the spec to "delete a
relationship" (after i created one). at the same time, if the delete
is used to cancel one's own account, is there any dual "creation"
procedure supported?

i checked shindig's code as well but couldn't find any help as most of
these methods are not implemented.

thank you!
walter


 
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Evgeny Bogdanov  
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 More options Dec 16 2011, 1:07 am
From: Evgeny Bogdanov <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:07:57 -0800 (PST)
Local: Fri, Dec 16 2011 1:07 am
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

I think it is a typo and should be PUT

I think the best is if create/delete creates user account and deletes it.
And for relationship there should be their own crud requests.

I believe, since creating an account and deleting it is normally processed
by a platform
and there are no APIs for it, the relationships were added instead. If
that's the case,
then delete should remove the relationship as opposed to create.

all things IMO


 
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Laurent-Walter Goix  
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 More options Dec 21 2011, 4:37 am
From: Laurent-Walter Goix <laurentwalter.g...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:37:39 -0800 (PST)
Local: Wed, Dec 21 2011 4:37 am
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics
thank you evgeny for the clarification. should i submit an issue for
it or are they other opinions/feedbacks?

walter

On Dec 16, 7:07 am, Evgeny Bogdanov <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com> wrote:


 
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Laurent-Walter Goix  
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 More options Jan 4 2012, 12:19 pm
From: Laurent-Walter Goix <laurentwalter.g...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 09:19:27 -0800 (PST)
Local: Wed, Jan 4 2012 12:19 pm
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics
hello evgeny, all,

summarizing, wouldn't it be easy to add some clarifying text in these
sections of the people service to
- clarify in section 2.1.2.1 that using group-id @self will actually
create the account (the user-id in the uri fragment or in the person
body may indicate a preferred requested user-id subject to server
policies), whilst any other value will create a relationship?
otherwise what is the meaning of such call?
- generalize the support for deletion in section 2.1.4 to any Group-Id
(not only @self), providing the same clarifications as above (@self
deletes the user account itself whilst any other group value deletes
the relationship). this would also link more easily with section
2.1.1.4 to retrieve "deleted" relationships

these little changes may clarify a lot the semantics of messages when
implementing. what are your thoughts?

walter

On Dec 21 2011, 10:37 am, Laurent-Walter Goix


 
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Evgeny Bogdanov  
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 More options Jan 5 2012, 2:48 am
From: Evgeny Bogdanov <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 23:48:46 -0800 (PST)
Local: Thurs, Jan 5 2012 2:48 am
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

I personally agree. The only thing I am not sure about is whether there is
a need to create/delete account in API.


 
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Laurent-Walter Goix  
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 More options Jan 10 2012, 1:07 pm
From: Laurent-Walter Goix <laurentwalter.g...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:07:35 -0800 (PST)
Local: Tues, Jan 10 2012 1:07 pm
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics
i just filed issue http://code.google.com/p/opensocial-resources/issues/detail?id=1233
to keep track of this discussion

On Jan 5, 8:48 am, Evgeny Bogdanov <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com> wrote:


 
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Evgeny Bogdanov  
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 More options Jan 23 2012, 4:16 am
From: Evgeny Bogdanov <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:16:06 -0800 (PST)
Local: Mon, Jan 23 2012 4:16 am
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

To continue this discussion since it is connected to Person Service.
I submitted a patch with implementation to update Person service.
So there are few things to be clarified.

1. As Stanton asks concerning this REST API:
http://opensocial-resources.googlecode.com/svn/spec/trunk/Social-API-...
"What's to stop one person from updating another person? The rest API says
that the User-Id defaults to @me, but doesn't say you can't list another
user. Shouldn't we only allow @me to be updated, which would be equivalent
to the viewer id in the security token?"
Maybe User-Id should always be @me, so that user can only update his own
information?

2. Also from Stanton: "I also don't see osapi.people.update() in the social
gadget spec and if the intent is for it to be there, you should try to get
the spec updated as well"
I believe it should added, no?


 
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Laurent-Walter Goix  
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 More options Jan 23 2012, 12:52 pm
From: Laurent-Walter Goix <laurentwalter.g...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:52:33 -0800 (PST)
Local: Mon, Jan 23 2012 12:52 pm
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics
as i understand the API from a spec perspective, the update has
different meanings based on the the Group-Id (@self updates his own
info, whilst another group will update the corresponding person within
a list, such a friends or others)
but i do see it mostly used for "@me" user-id. i am also wondering the
meaning of it with another user-id, but maybe the original authors can
clarify this point?

i believe (as stanton suggested) it may have sense in some containers
based on delegation permissions, so i can authorize someone to update
my info, but of course i would suspect that not all containers (nor
all users) would allow this type of behaviour.

on the JS API point i'm no expert but maybe this was already answered
on the list.

walter

On Jan 23, 10:16 am, Evgeny Bogdanov <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com>
wrote:


 
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Evgeny Bogdanov  
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 More options Jun 10 2012, 12:10 pm
From: Evgeny Bogdanov <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 09:10:38 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Sun, Jun 10 2012 12:10 pm
Subject: Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

I submitted a patch for this issue here.
http://code.google.com/p/opensocial-resources/issues/detail?id=1233&c...

There is one question left for me.
The REST/RPC apis have the following structure

= "/people/" User-Id <file:///Users/evgeny/work/os/Core-Data.xml#User-Id>"/"
Group-Id <file:///Users/evgeny/work/os/Social-Data.xml#Group-Id>
+

 A Person object representing a targeted user
In other words, let's say, we use Update API
Logged in user (either authenticated into a system or via security token)
is doing an update.
Then he can specify on behalf of which user the update is done (User-Id - User
ID of the person initiating the update request.)
and which user is to be updated (Person object with an id field).

IMO, it's quite a complex structure and I believe User-Id should always
equal "@me". But if it's always @me, then probably it's better to change
User-Id into targeted user and not rely on Person object's id.
This would remove this third unnecessary concept and unify
get/post/update/delete requests...
Note that in Get request User-Id is the list of user to be requested and
not initiator of a request.


 
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Henry Saputra  
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 More options Jun 10 2012, 2:13 pm
From: Henry Saputra <henry.sapu...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 11:13:26 -0700
Local: Sun, Jun 10 2012 2:13 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

I think the container should be allowed to prevent update to other users if
authenticated user is not allowed to make the change

On Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 9:10 AM, Evgeny Bogdanov
<evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com>wrote:


 
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Evgeny V. Bogdanov  
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 More options Jun 10 2012, 3:32 pm
From: "Evgeny V. Bogdanov" <evgeny.bogda...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 21:32:47 +0200
Local: Sun, Jun 10 2012 3:32 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

  Yes, that's correct and this is the case at the moment.
It's up to the container whether an authenticated user can update info
of another user or not.

the problem is
1. there is an authenticated user
2. user on behalf of which the action (update/delete/create) is accomplished
3. target user where updates are sent to
All together, 3 people are involved, but should be 2

for example,
1. Alice - logged into container
2. She calls an api
PUT
= "/people/Bob/Group-Id"
with params: person = {id: "Carol", name: "New name"}
-> will assign new name to Carol

As spec says: Bob = User ID of the person initiating the update request
I believe, Bob should always match Alice (the initiator of update
request) or be "@me"

IMO, the User ID should be an id of a person to be updated, like this:
1. Alice - logged into container
2. She calls an api
PUT
= "/people/Carol/Group-Id"
with params: person = {name: "New name"}
-> will assign new name to Carol

Pls check:
http://opensocial-resources.googlecode.com/svn/spec/trunk/Social-API-...
and
http://opensocial-resources.googlecode.com/svn/spec/trunk/Social-API-...

On 10/6/12 20:13, Henry Saputra wrote:


 
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Ryan Baxter  
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 More options Jun 10 2012, 7:48 pm
From: Ryan Baxter <rbaxte...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:48:32 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Sun, Jun 10 2012 7:48 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

Evgeny, I agree with what you are proposing below.  The user logged into
the container and the user making the update should always be the same.


 
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Mark W.  
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 More options Jun 11 2012, 6:56 pm
From: "Mark W." <weitzelm.w...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:56:10 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Mon, Jun 11 2012 6:56 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

This is actually a pretty interesting discussion... In general I agree.
However, we've been looking at a "run as" type of option on our REST APIs.
One use case that comes up is a automated service that runs on behalf of a
user. Has anyone else hit this type of scenario?


 
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Ryan Baxter  
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 More options Jun 11 2012, 8:45 pm
From: Ryan Baxter <rbaxte...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 17:45:36 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Mon, Jun 11 2012 8:45 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

Can't say we (IBM) have...do you want to elaborate on the use case for this?


 
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James M Snell  
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 More options Jun 12 2012, 2:02 am
From: James M Snell <jasn...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:02:21 -0700
Local: Tues, Jun 12 2012 2:02 am
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

In such cases, using @me with an oauth token granted to the agent running
on the users behalf would likely be the most appropriate.
On Jun 11, 2012 3:56 PM, "Mark W." <weitzelm.w...@gmail.com> wrote:


 
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Mark W.  
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 More options Jun 12 2012, 7:09 am
From: "Mark W." <weitzelm.w...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 04:09:34 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Tues, Jun 12 2012 7:09 am
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

Ryan,
The use case is pretty straightforward--I've got some backend service (e.g.
at the most basic a cron job) that through business logic determines that
an activity needs to be posted, or a profile updated, etc. (new level
achieved in gamification engine, some BPM process, whatever...)

James,
Using an OAuth token is an interesting idea and one we are looking at. I'd
like to be able to make this work, but our current APIs are not protected
by OAuth, so there's work to be done.  


 
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Laura Kolker [AppFusions]  
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 More options Jun 12 2012, 3:53 pm
From: "Laura Kolker [AppFusions]" <la...@appfusions.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:53:52 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Tues, Jun 12 2012 3:53 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

I'd like to +1 Mark's use case.
I'm a developer with AppFusions, and we do a lot of integration work with
different technologies. The fundamental question with an integration that
has to be addressed at the beginning is: does the integration use a service
account that can do operations on the behalf of another user? There tend to
be pluses and minuses to all of the approaches we've worked with. A service
user has the benefit/negative of clearly being identified as a bot, so no
one's confused about how the operation came to be, but also it makes the
integration appear less seamless. As a developer in these contexts, we're
rarely offered the opportunity to express what we would prefer: it's almost
always more a matter of what do the APIs allow.  

Generally speaking, I find the service account approach (vs some kind of
user mapping through OAuth or related) to be simpler to conceptualize and
for the users to interact with re: configuration, so its definitely a
feature I find extremely useful where its available.

Laura


 
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Ryan Baxter  
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 More options Jun 12 2012, 10:17 pm
From: Ryan Baxter <rbaxte...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:17:58 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Tues, Jun 12 2012 10:17 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

Mark this sounds similar to an activity stream use case where a service,
such as a tasks management service, posts to certain users activities
streams about actions a separate user took in the app.

IE Super Task Service posts that Jane and Johns activity streams that I
have closed their tasks.

This makes sense to me for activities but I am not sure I like a service
being able to modify peoples profiles....but maybe we should allow for it
if container choose to support this.


 
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Mark W.  
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 More options Jun 14 2012, 7:54 am
From: "Mark W." <weitzelm.w...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:54:13 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Thurs, Jun 14 2012 7:54 am
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

Yeah, I kinda agree, but.... for every use case where we don't like it, we
could probably think of one where we do. For example, what if your
gamification engine wants to add a new badge to your profile?

I get what Laura is saying about the "run as" model--it's one we've been
looking at. Although I also like the idea of OAuth & scopes (what James has
been talking about). This might be a way to allow some service update ONLY
the badge.

...

read more »


 
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James M Snell  
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 More options Jun 14 2012, 12:05 pm
From: James M Snell <jasn...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:05:27 -0700
Local: Thurs, Jun 14 2012 12:05 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 4:54 AM, Mark W. <weitzelm.w...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yeah, I kinda agree, but.... for every use case where we don't like it, we
> could probably think of one where we do. For example, what if your
> gamification engine wants to add a new badge to your profile?

There are better ways of achieving this without requiring direct edit
access to a profile. For instance, via an Activity Service...

  POST /api/activities HTTP/1.1
  Host: example.org
  Content-Type: application/json

  {
    "actor": {"displayName": "gamification service"},
    "verb": "give",
    "object": {"objectType": "badge", "displayName": "You did it!"},
    "target": {"objectType": "person", "displayName": "Joe"}
  }

The server receiving this can then do the right thing in response. I would
imagine that most third party "edit" scenarios could fall into similar
patterns without requiring direct edit access.

> I get what Laura is saying about the "run as" model--it's one we've been
> looking at. Although I also like the idea of OAuth & scopes (what James has
> been talking about). This might be a way to allow some service update ONLY
> the badge.

When I think of "run as" I generally think more about automated profile
maintenance or analysis operations.

...

read more »


 
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Ryan Baxter  
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 More options Jun 14 2012, 8:48 pm
From: Ryan Baxter <rbaxte...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:48:55 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Thurs, Jun 14 2012 8:48 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

James are you saying that when the server receives that activity it would
also update the badge?

...

read more »


 
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James M Snell  
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 More options Jun 14 2012, 8:51 pm
From: James M Snell <jasn...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:51:37 -0700
Local: Thurs, Jun 14 2012 8:51 pm
Subject: Re: [osgs] Re: Clarifications about Person Service semantics

I'm saying that it's possible to use activities in a way that allows the
server to respond in particular ways when specific activities occur.. So,
yes, that's exactly what i'm saying.
On Jun 14, 2012 5:48 PM, "Ryan Baxter" <rbaxte...@gmail.com> wrote:

...

read more »


 
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