[alicebot-archcomm] aiml <services> Test Platform *IS* Operational

[Ernest Lergon]

Gary Robertson wrote:
> OK folks, here is my first attempt at providing a remote service for a
> testing platform with a possible future aiml <service> tag.  So far,
> this 'service' only returns the current Eastern Standard Daylight
> Savings time in one of many formats you might specify using a 'mask'
> variable.  *Future* enhancements planned include selecting a time zone,
> specifying a ''spoken word" format, and providing a daylight savings
> time switch.
> 

What should it be worthwhile? Why not just defining a NTP service?

Using Perl, it's easy to implement - e.g.:

NTP:
http://search.cpan.org/author/GBARR/libnet-1.16/Net/Time.pm

Speaking Clock:
http://search.cpan.org/author/SIMON/Time-Human-1.02/Human.pm

and many more.

I'm sure, that for other programming languages like PHP or JavaScript
such modules are available too.

Your example shows, that such a "little" thing like time handling is
complicated, so why re-inventing the wheel? Every new "service" will
yield the same problems - so why not use existing protocols provided by
foreign hosts?

And you're just moving the interface problem to a SERVICE_ALICE:

        <remote/fetch> ?                        ?
ALICE <----------------> SERVICE_ALICE <----------------> NON_ALICE

Moreover, why should every ALICE use a *central* SERVICE_ALICE?

Defining a <fetch> tag does not mean to specify a lot of special
services provided by a special server. We rather should concentrate on
how to setup rules for implementing an interface, while keeping the
template-side tag simple.

And before we can do this, there must be a consensus about integrating
the <startup> tag family in AIML!

Ok, enough said - please review
http://list.alicebot.org/pipermail/alicebot-archcomm/2003-August/000898.html 


Ernest

-- 
               ProgramV - Alice on Perl - available at
                http://www.virtualitas.net/perl/aiml/

       VIRTUALITAS - Manufacturer of fine OOPPS - since 1996
*********************************************************************
* VIRTUALITAS Inc.               *       http://www.virtualitas.net *
* Ernest Lergon                  *    mailto:Ernest@virtualitas.net *
*********************************************************************
       PGP-Fingerprint 6E6F DC17 A886 342D  D63F 7880 12F5 6BA9
         PGP-Key http://www.virtualitas.net/Ernest_Lergon.asc

---------------------------------------------------------------------
SPAM ALERT                       http://www.virtualitas.net/spam.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------