[zeromq-dev] Pull request to retire "devices" and replace with "proxies"

[Garrett Smith]

I always read "device" as "a higher level interface that's so
fundamental it's provided as a reusable black box".

So, a very commonly used specific type of proxy.

Proxy is so generic that it might erode this more specific meaning, if
in fact I have that right.

If I'm wrong, then by definition device is a bad name ;)

On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 8:22 AM, Pieter Hintjens <pieterh at gmail.com> wrote:
> The thing in libzmq is not a gateway or bridge. It is a simple point of
> connection between two groups of nodes that solves the problem of massive
> interconnects. That is, strictly, a proxy.
>
> -Pieter
>
> On Sep 8, 2012 8:50 PM, "Justin Cook" <jhcook at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I prefer the term "gateway" as defined on Wikipedia:
>>
>> "In a communications network, a network node equipped for interfacing with
>> another network that uses different protocols.
>>
>> A gateway may contain devices such as protocol translators, impedance
>> matching  devices, rate converters, fault isolators, or signal translators
>> as necessary to provide system interoperability. It also requires the
>> establishment of mutually acceptable administrative procedures between both
>> networks.
>>
>> A protocol translation/mapping gateway interconnects networks with
>> different network protocol technologies by performing the required protocol
>> conversions."
>>
>> A proxy is what most "devices" end up being, correct:
>>
>> "...acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources
>> from other servers."
>>
>> In reality, both proxy and gateway are "devices." That term is more
>> encompassing. I believe "devices" should be kept with subcategories
>> including "proxy" and "gateway". It would definitely make sense with REST
>> anyway.
>>
>> --
>> Justin Cook
>>
>>
>> On Saturday, 8 September 2012 at 11:23, Cem Karan wrote:
>>
>> > How about 'adaptor'? The various devices I've seen remind me a bit of
>> > something like that.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Cem Karan
>> >
>> > On Sep 8, 2012, at 1:58 AM, Michel Pelletier wrote:
>> >
>> > > I agree with Brian, proxy doesn't feel any better to me. I'm not
>> > > saying device is a good name, but it argues against changing it unless
>> > > the new name is better.
>> > >
>> > > -Michel
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 8:37 PM, Pieter Hintjens <ph at imatix.com
>> > > (mailto:ph at imatix.com)> wrote:
>> > > > On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 4:53 AM, MinRK <benjaminrk at gmail.com
>> > > > (mailto:benjaminrk at gmail.com)> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > ... but at least I can tell them to email Pieter :)
>> > > >
>> > > > :-) of course.
>> > > >
>> > > > > Yes, I would certainly do that. But deprecating names is not
>> > > > > significantly
>> > > > > less painful than simply changing them, as people still have to
>> > > > > update their
>> > > > > code in the exact same way, just not so abruptly. And they will
>> > > > > rightfully
>> > > > > complain that they are getting nothing for their trouble.
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > Well, we've had this discussion a few times... my view is that it's
>> > > > never too late to clear up confusing names.
>> > > >
>> > > > We forget the pain it took to learn 0MQ initially. Explaining it
>> > > > again
>> > > > from scratch, it's clear where we can improve things.
>> > > >
>> > > > "Device" is one of those concepts that always seemed harder to learn
>> > > > than it should have been. "Proxy" isn't an ideal name, but it does
>> > > > seem to cover most use cases, and should be much easier to grasp for
>> > > > new users.
>> > > >
>> > > > So what's the benefit of this change?
>> > > >
>> > > > My hope is that as "proxy" sticks better as a concept, people will
>> > > > actually invest in the built-in proxy, as they never did in devices.
>> > > >
>> > > > -Pieter
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