Re: [hybi] Versioning is a anti-pattern

[Greg Wilkins <[e-mail]>]

On 3 September 2010 07:42, David Orchard <[e-mail]> wrote:
> A lack of versioning, and I don't mean just using identifiers, is
> pretty risky.  Interesting question as to whether HTTP version
> identifiers have helped or not, and I tend to think they have helped.

HTTP servers deployed in the wild stills sees a significant proportion
of HTTP/1.0 traffic, but mostly HTTP/1.1. There is still even a few
HTTP/0.9 (== no version) requests, but those are mostly me using
telnet to get a REST resource (because I can't remember the args to
curl).

The difference in protocol behaviour between these 3 versions is
significant and it would be neigh impossible for a server to service
the variety of clients deployed without a version. Supporting 3
versions of the protocol does complicate the server, but there is no
other choice as you cannot force web clients to upgrade (nor me to
remember the args to curl)

The only time I've had real problems with different dialects of HTTP
was during the change from rfc2068 to rfc2616, both of which said they
were HTTP/1.1 (why not HTTP/1.2?        So maybe now, years later it
is great they we don't have to maintain 2068 support, but that was
only lucky as there was not wide deployment of rfc2068 clients.

cheers