Google’s Plan to Make the Web Twice as Fast
Google is apparently in the early stages of a research project that appears to aim as high as perhaps replacing the HTTP protocol, the fundamental technology that essentially makes the World Wide Web possible.
In a somewhat obscure post on the Chromium blog, the development branch of their ChromeChromeChrome browser, GoogleGoogleGoogle reveals they’ve been working on a new protocol dubbed SPDY for “SPeeDY” for its goal of making the web faster.
While HTTP is an “elegantly simple protocol” that has powered the web since 1996, the tone of Google’s post is almost patronizing, as if HTTP were our doddering old uncle that’s had his day and needs to be put out to pasture. Then again, Google’s hubris is perhaps warranted as one of the only companies with enough clout and resources to indeed spur on the “evolution of websites and browsers” with an entirely new protocol designed to speed up the communication between web servers and clients.
They reveal they’ve already got a prototype web server and a Chrome client with built-in SPDY support that they’ve been testing in the lab. With these tools they’ve reportedly been able to see an up to 55% speed increase in page loading, and feel like the project is now stable enough to warrant soliciting feedback from the web community. The SPDY documentation is now available, as well as the source code. Google encourages feedback on the new protocol in the Chromium Google Group.
What do you think, is Google onto something in thinking the basic protocol underpinning the web needs a refresh? Is it time to focus on the need for speed? Let us know in the comments.
src: Google’s Plan to Make the Web Twice as Fast
At first I thought they are also planning to change html …but thnx God phew
aaho
November 19, 2009, 6:06pm
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Re: Google plan to change http protocol
They have power they can impose new tech.. though will take another 10 years to have the domination.
maroush
November 19, 2009, 6:28pm
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Re: Google plan to change http protocol
They do have the power indeed… it will be interesting to see how this pans out
maroush
November 19, 2009, 6:28pm
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Re: Google plan to change http protocol
PS: Cadet, your avatar is freaking me out! Change it! :no:
NaMaan
November 20, 2009, 3:50pm
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Re: Google plan to change http protocol
Hmmm . . . Idea is awesome . There is always need for better protocols and languages . But I am not sure about the cost to replace the legacy protocols . Its gona be huge . Of course there will be some bridging protocol between HTTP and Speedy . It will be cheaper to replace HTML than HTTP though :p
Re: Google plan to change http protocol
I say it's about time - not that there's anything wrong with http, but if it can be improved, then why not. I suspect, it's going to be optimization at the transport level of the protocol.
Google is already doing a good deal of development at the application level with its browser initiatives and the protocols that are driving its Wave service... might as well complement these initiatives with a transport level improvement as well.
