Service Page API¶

Project Overview¶

“What the heck are you talking about, Calvin?”

The Service Page API is a common API for extensions that can be used in any browser, and which can added to existing browsers as a plugin or extension.

Motivation¶

• I learned how to write Firefox extensions

Motivation¶

• I learned how to write Firefox extensions
• Jetpack extensions

Motivation¶

• I learned how to write Firefox extensins
• Jetpack extensions
• Chrome extensions

Motivation¶

• I learned how to write Firefox extensions
• Jetpack extensions
• Chrome extensions
• Each one was closer to writing a web page than the last...

So...¶

So...¶

Why isn’t it just writing a web page?

What does it solve?¶

• Writing extensions for multiple browsers is too difficult
• Writing extensions is too unfamiliar for web developers
• Websites cannot easily use extensions to enhance the UX

Multiple browsers¶

Extensions are mostly done with web technologies anyway. Why does it have to be browser specific?

Unfamiliar APIs¶

And if its so web-like, why isn’t it more web-like?

Is that redundant?

So are the skillsets of website and browser extension development.

How Does It Solve It?¶

Service Pages are hidden webpages the browser opens to provide services to other pages the user visits.

Architecture¶

• Website registers the URL of a Service Page, identified by a type
• Other sites ask the browser to access a service, by type
• Browser acts as a proxy
• Requesting page doesn’t need to know who it is talking to

The API¶

The offerer of a service:

servicepage.register(“status_update”, “http://sp.servicepage.org/status_update/”);

The API¶

The user of a service:

servicepage.getService(“status_update”, use_service);

function use_service(S) {

S.do_update(“I just used a Service Page!”); }

My Goals¶

First: pie-in-the-sky vaporware.

Second:

Chrome Prototype¶

A chrome extension implementing the API demonstrates how it works and provides a (potential) large user base without any browser vendor support.

Firefox Version¶

This will prove it isn’t a one trick pony.

I haven’t started this yet.

Useful Service Set¶

• Useful set of service types
• Useful set of services offered from servicepage.org
• Jumpstart the concept

The World of Tomorrow¶

• Release the chrome extension
• Launch servicepage.org
• Publish the API draft