Re: [hybi] method of allocation of reserved bits to extensions

["Andy Green (林安廸)" <[e-mail]>]

On 05/20/2011 07:42 AM, Somebody in the thread at some point said:
> Gabriel
>
> I'm concerned that if we really restrict usage of the reserved bits,
> then we will force extensions into using whole bytes at the start of
> the payload, when they really only want 1 bit.  If we really do get
> into the situation where we have many extensions, then we could have
> many wasted bits.
>
> How about just having a mechanism that if we can allocated as many
> reserved bits as we like, and if more than 3 are allocated then extra
> bytes are prepended to the payload (as needed) for the extra bits.
> Thus we could have unlimited extensions needing unlimited bits.
>
> If a client doesn't want to play that game, then all it need do is
> never handshake with extensions that need more than 3 bits.

Sounds good to me.

This idea of reserved bits being misered is not only unnecessary but it 
is really inefficient - it'll lead to only special, big, connected 
players being able to use them and because they are permanently 
allocated to particular extensions in that model, there will always be a 
desire to withhold them "for later".

Dynamic allocation way anyone can randomly decide their extension will 
use them, no central allocation is needed and multiple extensions using 
reserved bits will always play well (plus or minus other doubts about 
extension ordering not related to reserved bits).

-Andy