Grouper Developers Forum

[Jessica Bibbee <>]

MACE-Dir-Groups Conference Call
November 16, 2005

*Participants*
Tom Barton, U. Chicago (chair)
Blair Christensen, U. Chicago
Joy Veronneau, U. Cornell
Steve Barrett, U. Cornell
Gary Brown, U. Bristol
RL "Bob" Morgan, U. Washington
Ann West, EDUCAUSE/Internet2
Steve Olshansky, Internet2
Jessica Bibbee, Internet2 (scribe)

New *Action Items*
[AI] {Joy, Tom, and Bob} volunteered to test the UI once code changes for v0.9 are made, and send any bug reports to {Gary}.

[AI] {Steve Barrett} volunteered to contribute a one-page write-up on U. Cornell's experience with using SOAP as a wrapper around the API.

Carry-over *Action Items*
[AI] {Joy} volunteered to provide feedback on U. Cornell's use of style sheets and screens. (2-Nov-05)  

[AI] {Bob} will make suggestions regarding use of XML formats for load/distribution. (5-Oct-05)

[AI] {Gary} and {Blair} will work offline to determine an agreeable solution for housing libraries within Grouper. (7-Sep-05)  

[AI] {Tom} will develop a list of how to point to different backend databases. (7-Sep-05)

*Discussion*
{Blair} reviewed the recent and in-progress enhancements to the API. He has worked with the management of effective memberships and privileges, such that for privileges interfaces, {Gary} will be able to tell which privileges are effective or not. What is offered is essentially a methods adapter with individually granted privileges. For searching, you can now combine queries using intersection and compliment filters, and sites have the freedom to implement their own custom search to fit their individual needs. Placing user controls on transactions may or may not make it into v0.9. Other activities include CVS work, as Blair continues to work on the HEAD branch. Comments or questions are welcomed, and should be addressed to {Blair} via the mailing list. Privileges work and remaining items should be complete by the end of this work-week, after which, {Gary} will work on the code.

{Blair} also detailed work on the use of Grouper's system special subjects. An "all" subject will be added to the directory, much in the same way as other subjects are created – with the addition of a few internal hooks. The "all" special subject refers to any subject in the Subject Interface.  Another special subject is the "wheel" group, which is a set of users allowed to act having root privileges. This operational item will be a convenience, and though it will not be included in v0.9 – it will likely be available in v1.1.

{Blair} said that completion of his work may still be possible by the deadline of 5-Dec. {Gary's} work may require a few extra days to incorporate his changes into the UI. Another issue is proper testing of the UI – which ideally should be done before going public. {Gary} requested help from others in the Group to test the UI in late November/early December. [AI] {Joy, Tom, and Bob} volunteered to test the UI once code changes for v0.9 are made, and send any bug reports to {Gary}.

Documentation of the implementation guide is essentially complete, and will only need minor adjustments. Other documentation (javadoc) is accurate, but may not be thorough or extensively detailed as of yet.

{Bob} raised the issue of Grouper's use of protocols such as SOAP or AXIS. {Blair} suggested that Grouper look to the work of others for potential benefits or disadvantages. SOAP appears to have some caveats, though {Joy} is experimenting with a website that uses a sample query tool, grouperq. {Steve Barrett} explained that U. Cornell is looking at exposing the API through AXIS, though a downside is that it may inadvertently require people to have local java classes – which may entail more programming than they would expect to do. [AI] {Steve Barrett} volunteered to contribute a one-page write-up on their experience with using SOAP as a wrapper around the API.

The next MACE-Dir Groups call will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 12pm ET.