We’ve been working on a number of improvements to the Python implementation of Cometd. Cometd is one of the many open source projects that SitePen supports (DWR, Dojo Toolkit, Dojo Offline, Dojo Grid, etc.). We’re committed to improving open source products by adding new features and improving performance and reliability.

We’ve made a nice improvement for implementing the 1.0.1 version of the Bayeux spec, making it and the associated error codes available as JSON files, so it can be pulled into any JSON compliant language! This can be used as both a programmatic and visual reference for Bayeux protocol message composition, assertion checking on message fields, consistent error message handling, etc.

Today, we’re also pleased to announce the following additions for the Python version of Cometd:

• Adding “advices” and “extensions,” with the goal of enabling features such as the guaranteed delivery of messages, through extensions in the ext namespace per the Bayeux protocol
• Allowing systems to make requests that pass through to other systems by adding /service/* topics and the implicit client name channel, which allows published messages to that topic to be returned only to the caller and not to all subscribed topics.
• Adding authentication with a plug-in architecture for various authentication mechanisms. Initially, we’ll have HTTP BASIC authentication, and we plan to later add support for OpenID and LDAP
• Adding a permission system to control publish and subscribe of messages to topics, including restricting implicit topic creation.

Most of these changes should arrive in Cometd’s subversion repository this week, thanks to the hard work of valued SitePen consultant Gloria Willadsen.

CodeMash 2008 was my first conference since coming to work for SitePen, and my first opportunity to talk about Dojo. I had two talks: an introduction to Dojo (i.e. “how much Dojo can I cram into an hour”) and a talk about Dojo Offline and Google Gears. I love talking about cool technology, and CodeMash is great fun, so this was a treat.

I’d like to highlight a couple of topics that came up at CodeMash. Over on my blog I have posted more general comments about CodeMash 2008 with a bit less detail on these topics.

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With the release of the iPhone 1.1.3 firmware update, Apple has given us the ability to create custom “webclip” icons (think “favicon” for your iPhone and iPod Touch) by adding a special file called “apple-touch-icon.png” to the root of your website (same place as the favicon). As an example, to the left is the new icon for SitePen.

If you have an iPhone, give it a whirl: hit the SitePen home page and add it to your home!

(Webclip icon linkage from Daring Fireball, Dan Dickinson, and Hicks Design.)

As we kick off 2008, I’m pleased and extremely excited to announce that we’ve added some awesome, new talent to the SitePen team.

Eugene Lazutkin is highly respected in Dojo circles for his work on Drag-n-drop, GFX (2D and 3D), Charting, and many other crucial 0.9 and 1.0 features. For the past two years, Eugene has also been a key Dojo mentor for the Google Summer of Code. His deep background in 2D and 3D graphics is an asset to any team and we’re looking forward to working with Eugene to help push the state of open web data visualization even further.

Peter Higgins is a prolific contributor to Dojo, improving Dijit and developing tons of great new UI controls. When not building great UIs, Peter has been doggedly helping us build a stronger Dojo community. In addition to joining SitePen, Peter is also assuming the role of official Dojo Evangelist for the Dojo Toolkit.

Kris Zyp is well known for his open source work on JavaScript and JSON. Kris has created numerous projects and products including Authenteo, a web content management system, Persevere, a set of tools for persistence and distributed computing, and JSPON, an extension to JSON for advanced techniques such as multiple referencing, circular referencing, object identification, modification, and structural definition.

Strengthening the SitePen team is one of our primary goals for 2008, allowing us to continue to push the limits of the Open Web! Happy New Year!