Intent to implement BackgroundSync API for FirefoxOS

[Jed Parsons]

Summary: From the explainer document [1], the proposed API "extends Service
Workers with a new onsync event. This is coupled with a new document-side
API
for registering (and unregistering) interest in onsync. Together, these APIs
form the basis of a powerful new capability for rich web apps."

This is being developed behind the "dom.backgroundSync.enabled" pref.

Bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1018320

Wiki: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Cloud_Services/FirefoxOS_Sync

We are initially targeting FirefoxOS, but intend to implement in gecko in
order
to support all our platforms.

The proposed spec can best be read in the explainer document [1]. The W3C
draft [2] is in progress.

We had an initial conversation about the proposal at the WebAPI weekly
meeting
on 10 June, 2014. [3] Here are some questions that were raised:

Q. Does this have anything to do with Desktop Firefox Sync?
A. No. This is unrelated.

Q. Why not use fetch in service workers?
A. This API will enable us to
- periodically wake the app (already running or not) up to sync
- provide assurances to necessary resources are available (wifi, etc.)
- hopefully protect the syncing app from OOM killing
- provide the system some protection against malicious/errant apps

Q. You're using system messages now; why?
A. This is a short-term hack to unblock other development efforts [4]
We will not be using system messages in the final product.

Thank you all for your feedback,
Jed


[1] https://github.com/slightlyoff/BackgroundSync/blob/master/explainer.md
[2] https://slightlyoff.github.io/BackgroundSync/spec/ (not yet complete)
[3] https://etherpad.mozilla.org/webapi-meetingnotes
[4] e.g., https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1019787

[Kyle Huey]

Who is the point of contact on the DOM/WebAPI team for the spec side here?

- Kyle

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[Anne van Kesteren]

On Thu, Jun 12, 2014 at 4:34 AM, Kyle Huey <m...@kylehuey.com> wrote:
> Who is the point of contact on the DOM/WebAPI team for the spec side here?

I am following the GitHub repository since yesterday. And together
with Jonas discussed this API with Google/Samsung early April. The
main problem with this feature seems to be UX, though if you have any
concerns please say so (or raise an issue on GitHub).


--
http://annevankesteren.nl/

[Kyle Huey]

I don't have any concrete concerns. I just wanted to make someone is
looking at it.

- Kyle