Re: [xmlvoc] Applicaiton Programming Interface - API : Proposeddefinition

[Mary Nishikawa <nisikawa@fuchinobe.oilfield.slb.com>]

At 11:37 AM 5/12/2003 -0400, Patrick Durusau wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>I will be posting proposed definitions for the xmlvoc.ltm file to the 
>list. Please expect one every 3 to 4 days, sooner if there is general 
>approval, so we can get through the entire file by Montreal.
>
>Term: application programming interface
>
>Suggested definition: The interface (calling conventions) by which an 
>application program accesses operating system and other services.  An API 
>is defined at source code level and provides a level of abstraction 
>between the application and the kernel (or other privileged utilities) to 
>ensure the portability of the code.

Another definition --  FYI -- I like the following better. Techweb has very 
good definitions, as I mentioned at the meeting.  Please consider this in 
your votes :)

http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm?term=API&x=38&y=7
(Application Programing Interface) A language and message format used by an 
application program to communicate with the operating system or some other 
control program such as a database management system (DBMS) or 
communications protocol. APIs are implemented by writing function calls in 
the program, which provide the linkage to the required subroutine for 
execution. Thus, an API implies that some program module is available in 
the computer to perform the operation or that it must be linked into the 
existing program to perform the tasks.


>Approve:
>
>Disapprove:  X (please include reasons) I would rather use the Techweb 
>definition. http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm?term=API&x=38&y=7
>
>(suggest that we just take the first sentence, can include it in full.)
>
>Source:
>
>The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (09 FEB 02) :
>
>  Application Program Interface
>      (API, or "application programming interface")
>     The interface (calling conventions) by which an application
>     program accesses operating system and other services.  An
>     API is defined at source code level and provides a level of
>     abstraction between the application and the kernel (or
>     other privileged utilities) to ensure the portability of the
>     code.
>     An API can also provide an interface between a high level
>     language and lower level utilities and services which were
>     written without consideration for the calling conventions
>     supported by compiled languages.  In this case, the API's main
>     task may be the translation of parameter lists from one format
>     to another and the interpretation of call-by-value and
>     call-by-reference arguments in one or both directions.
>Hope everyone has returned home safe and sound!
>
>Patrick
>
>--
>Patrick Durusau
>Director of Research and Development
>Society of Biblical Literature
>Patrick.Durusau@sbl-site.org
>Co-Editor, ISO 13250, Topic Maps -- Reference Model
>
>