[webkit-dev] Upstreaming Support for W3C Sensor API

[Maciej Stachowiak]

I think this feature is pretty far out relative to WebKit project goals, even independent of spec maturity level.

We've had controversy (though ultimately tentative agreement on adding) APIs for hardware found in some but not all classes of mainstream hardware that runs a browser. For example, Vibration API was pretty specific to the phone. Gamepad API seems specific to game consoles or those relatively rate PCs that have a game pad attached.

The types of sensors in this API (Temperature, Air Pressure, Humidity, Magnetic Field Strength...) strike me as not common I/O devices on any mainstream class of hardware. Therefore I would class this whole feature area  as experimental and not in line with WebKit project goals.

Therefore, I think this work is not appropriate for the WebKit repository at this time, even as a WebCore Module. Of course, implementing the feature outside the main repository, e.g. via GitHub, is ok, and may be an opportunity to demonstrate its general usefulness.

Regards,
Maciej

On Mar 16, 2012, at 2:15 PM, Adam Barth wrote:

> Historically, the WebKit project hasn't had the warmest relationship
> with the DAP working group, and we've tended to be conservative about
> which DAP APIs we merge into trunk.  The Sensor API appears to be
> fairly early in its lifecycle.  As far as I can tell, it hasn't even
> reached FPWD, which means, among other things, that the W3C patent
> process hasn't started.  These factors lead me to think that we should
> wait a bit before landing the feature in trunk.
> 
> You might consider implementing this feature as a WebCore Module
> <https://trac.webkit.org/wiki/Modules>.  If you go that route, the
> implementation should be fairly loosely coupled with the rest of
> WebCore, which means implementing the feature first on GitHub (a la
> <https://trac.webkit.org/wiki/UsingGitHub>) might be a good choice.
> This approach will give you a chance to experiment with an
> implementation and receive feedback from the WebKit community without
> being blocked on merging your feature into trunk.
> 
> Adam
> 
> 
> 2012/3/16 Adam Barth <abarth at webkit.org>:
>> The specification appears to be here:
>> http://dvcs.w3.org/hg/dap/raw-file/tip/sensor-api/Overview.html
>> 
>> Has this specification reached FPWD yet?  http://www.w3.org/TR/sensor/
>> returns a 404.
>> 
>> Adam
>> 
>> 
>> 2012/3/16 Dominik Röttsches <dominik.rottsches at linux.intel.com>:
>>> Hello webkit-dev,
>>> 
>>> We would like to upstream our implementation of W3C Sensor API [1].
>>> 
>>> As we are aware that this is a young specification, we propose to have it
>>> default #ifdef-disabled.
>>> However, we believe it could be useful for certain ports or useful for being
>>> accessed by Chrome extensions.
>>> 
>>> Your feedback is welcome.
>>> 
>>> For reference, we created meta bug
>>> https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=81352
>>> 
>>> Regards,
>>> 
>>> Dominik Röttsches
>>> 
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