[rtcweb] WebRTC JS object API with SDP shim option

[Robin Raymond <[e-mail]>]

You are right. It's time for those of us who are begging for an 
alternative to SDP to come up with an alternative.

I'm willing to lead such an effort. I just ask others to please have an 
open mind. I absolutely do understand the need for the SIP world to have 
an easy API they can use for SDP. But I also know SDP as an primary 
surface API is making anything beyond a basic calling a requirement to 
mangle SDP as a mechanism to control and obtain properties from an 
underlying media/RTC engine.

I think there is a really good compromise. That is to provide an API 
that will adhere to the security policies needed (e.g. respects the need 
to require ICE establishment), but provides a simple shim API similar to 
what people already have with SDP but not be required to use for those 
who want to a more direct approach.

There's no need to "burn" the entire thing to the ground and start over 
and that is _not_ my desire.

This WebRTC thing must succeed but I can't imagine the W3C accepting our 
proposal for mangling SDP as a primary surface API to do common edge 
case scenarios. WIth an alternative proposal that satisfies both camps, 
I believe they could accept and we can stop the anit-SDP crowd 
grumblings once and for all.

To that end I'm going to write two drafts:
draft-raymond-webrtc-js-object-api-rationale-00 (to explain 
requirements, philosophy, methodology, benefits/pitfalls, use cases that 
are difficult/impossible with SDP+O/A)
draft-raymond-webrtc-js-object-api-00 (to outline the actual API)

Plus, I'll produce a shim on top of whatever API that will allow the SDP 
folks to have a simple SDP based API similar to what exists now but is 
entirely written in JavaScript to prove that this can be done.

I really want a viable solutions for all interested in having a really 
good proposal API to ultimately become accepted by the W3C.

If anyone has anything I should add to either of these drafts or wants 
to be involved, please contact me.

-Robin


Christer Holmberg <mailto:[e-mail]>
20 June, 2013 12:55 AM
Hi,


At the virtual interim, the Plan A and Plan B folks were asked to sit 
down and try to come up with a compromise "Plan AB" solution.

I guess it would be good if people that don't want SDP could try to come 
up with a compromise "CU No Plan" solution :)

Regards,

Christer