#ActivityPub developers only please: how many items should be in a full collection page?
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There are a couple of other confounding factors.
Adding embedded objects makes supporting HTTP Caching harder. The `ETag` header isn't too hard, but `Last-Modified` is difficult. You need to check not only what the collection page modification date is, but also each of the embedded objects (and take the max date!). It's a pain and most folks don't even implement it.
The other things is collection filtering. This is where you check each item in a page to see if the client can actually read it, and leaving it out if not. It's very important if you include embedded objects, and not that important if not. If you only include references, they can be checked when the client tries to fetch them.
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The other things is collection filtering. This is where you check each item in a page to see if the client can actually read it, and leaving it out if not. It's very important if you include embedded objects, and not that important if not. If you only include references, they can be checked when the client tries to fetch them.
Another thing is whether "pages" in your collection are real objects -- buckets that fill up with items as time goes on -- or just fixed-length offsets from the most recent item. I think having real pages is much better for caching and synchronization.
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Another thing is whether "pages" in your collection are real objects -- buckets that fill up with items as time goes on -- or just fixed-length offsets from the most recent item. I think having real pages is much better for caching and synchronization.
Anyway, here's my thought: I think the advantages of embedded objects are offset by the problems with caching. I think we should make collection pages real, stable objects, with fixed contents and real modification dates. Return only references, not embedded objects. Do filtering, though. And make pages big -- 100 items or more.
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@macgirvin the 12-item page size is a real kick in the teeth.
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@macgirvin the 12-item page size is a real kick in the teeth.
@evan@cosocial.ca remind me to change pagination size to 1 on April 1st
