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Verifiable Claims and Digital Verification

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VC HTTP API Task Force

Minutes for 2021-05-13

Markus Sabadello is scribing.
Manu Sporny: Agenda is PRs first, then talk about use cases
Manu Sporny: We have a number of use cases we want to go through
Manu Sporny: Any updates to the agenda?

Topic: Review of Pull Requests

Manu Sporny: We have 2 PRs, both are attempting to apply last week's resolutions
Manu Sporny: First one is by markus_sabadello
Markus Sabadello: Yes, this PR proposes to split up the OpenAPI specificationf ile into three separate OpenAPI specification files plus a few additional ones. The idea is to try and separate issuer, verifier, holder related APIs into separate files. To make it easier to manage different areas of functionality. [scribe assist by Manu Sporny]
Markus Sabadello: The file has been getting larger and larger, with the addition of potential holder APIs, it's become even more complex, so the idea was to split this up to separate areas. There are some shared schemas as well. [scribe assist by Manu Sporny]
Orie Steele: There are also: "Internal Holder" and "External Holder / Exchange APIs"
Markus Sabadello: Verifiable Credential, Verifiable Presentation, for example. [scribe assist by Manu Sporny]
<orie> this was part of the contention on the previous PR
Markus Sabadello: The goal was to make everything more modular, there was support for this, and resolution was done so this puts it into practice. [scribe assist by Manu Sporny]
<orie> Markus' PR takes us in a good direction towards making this clearer
Manu Sporny: I agree, I have seen a lot of support and PR approvals
Manu Sporny: Suggestion is to merge immediately
Mike Prorock: Thanks to markus_sabadello , this will make future PRs much cleaner
Manu Sporny: YAML files are really helpful to be concise about endpoint inputs. Ideally we would fine a way to process those YAML files and inject them into Respec
Orie Steele: Here is an example: https://or13.github.io/traceability-api/
Manu Sporny: Orie, any thoughts on this?
Adrian Gropper: I think it's worth putting in the minutes that I was a hold out from this decision process. There is an issue that I hope we are all aware of an issue.. As a self-sovereign resource holder, when I go to the issuer, I should have the choice to get either a VC or a capability.
Adrian Gropper: I should be able to do whatever I want with it.
Adrian Gropper: If the process prevents me from getting a capability (and only a VC), this will have major repercussions
Mike Prorock: In terms of pulling Respec in, Orie linked an example in the spec. There are two things
Mrporock: One is interactive OpenAPI documentation. Those YAML file can be merged into a master YAML file and then sectioned out
Mike Prorock: This can then be pulled into Respec as shown by Orie's link
Manu Sporny: My concern is there are details here when pulling big chunks of Respec
Manu Sporny: My hope is we could do some pre-processing of a JSON structure and write a tiny Respec extension
Manu Sporny: Ensure we keep YAML and Respec in sync.
Mike Prorock: Sometimes there are benefits with using JSON. I might open an issue/PR
Manu Sporny: You outlined two things. First, you want to get a VC from the issuer; the API supports this today.
Manu Sporny: And, you as the caller can be an organization or an individual. You could be an individual with your own infastructure that is in full control of the API.
Adrian Gropper: Full sovereignty to me means when I get to delegate what happens relative to the issuer.
Manu Sporny: Currently, you can have full control over the entire infrastructure, you can run all of it.
Manu Sporny: Now let's talk about delegation
Manu Sporny: Delegation is part of the authorization framework, and we haven't had this discussion.
<orie> can we agree not to pull in authorization capabilities into this API?... I feel like thats a huge can of worms and is incompatible with the "Internal Endpoints"....
Manu Sporny: My expectation is some companies will support delegation to the API; one way is GNAP, another is ZCAP.
<orie> GNAP and ZCAPs are both drafts..... huge -1 to assuming them in any way.
Manu Sporny: We can allow this in the API. It may be an extension rather than first-class feature.
<orie> but certainly GNAP and ZCaps are possible solutions to "External Holder" scenarios
Manu Sporny: To discuss those things are in scope. There are people working on it.
Adrian Gropper: I will voice strong objection to the idea that this will be an extension rather than core. The reason is asymmetry of power between issuers and subjects.
Adrian Gropper: If we make this an extension, the asymmetry will become regulatory capture.
Adrian Gropper: Since we are at the beginning, we don't have to go down that path. We have everything we need in the spec/protocol work that we could address (channelling Alan Karp) justice and good design, right now from the beginning.
Orie Steele: We have to be careful when talking about capability systems, and these APIs. There are two different meanings of APIs.
Orie Steele: There are "internal" holder APIs, that help you make a presentation using a web service.
Orie Steele: This is different from talking to an "external" party.
Orie Steele: To date, we have only had internal APIs. The PR that spawned this discussion was the first time an external API was proposed
Orie Steele: GNAP / ZCAP is probably not appropriate for internal APIs, since in an internal domain there is no sovereignty, it's just app infrastructure.
Adrian Gropper: +1 Orie also GNAP will likely not discriminate between ZCAPS, biscuits, or macaroons
Manu Sporny: Markus' PR is going to go int.
Manu Sporny: The other PR is to create the initial structure of the spec.
Manu Sporny: I will share screen to show what the spec looks like
Manu Sporny: The PR would create the spec, a large part is blank.
Manu Sporny: The PR just has some proposals what the sections are.
Mike Prorock: +1 Initial structure to allow documentation
Manu Sporny: It is taking action on a recent resolution, so the suggestion is to merge it shortly.
Manu Sporny: Any questions/concerns about the PRs?

Topic: Use Cases

<juan_caballero> thanks for doing that manu!
Manu Sporny: Here is the use cases document
Manu Sporny: Juan has cleaned up the landing page, it has instructions and pointers on how to write use cases. Also has a proposed timeline.
Juan Caballero: I hope people put the emphasis on the right part of the use cases. Do not miss the link to Joe's email.
Juan Caballero: In the doc's version history, you can see a shorter use case, and then a longer one by Joe.
Juan Caballero: If anyone submits use cases, you can replay the process you see in the version history.
Juan Caballero: Use cases of the length of Adrian and Manu that really emphasize the real-world stakeholders and processes, rather than the technical steps.
Juan Caballero: The API is specifying a neutral cross-vendor general-purpose API.
Juan Caballero: I'd like to try emphasize incorporating some of the VC use cases, highlighting what is gained from vendors not having to invent their own bespoke APIs. This should be emphasized.
Eric_Schuh: That was great Juan, we're in alignment.
Eric_Schuh: I added a proposed timeline, would like to get some thoughts if 4 weeks seem like a reasonable amount of time.
Manu Sporny: I think the timeline is great, for a first pass. This doesn't mean you can't add more use cases after June 10th. Let's try to get the major use cases in by then.
<juan_caballero> minimum viable usecase set to structure and facilitate manu's skeleton spec being fleshed out!
<eric_schuh> timeline can always change if we feel like we need more time, of course
Manu Sporny: My experience is you only need 15-30 minutes to get something in.
Manu Sporny: +1 To the proposed timeline.
Manu Sporny: Happy to run a proposal
Manu Sporny: Any other comments on gathering use cases?
Manu Sporny: Let's try to spend some time talking about everybody's use cases, let's go in order
Manu Sporny: Agropper you wrote a digital vaccination use case? Can you introduce it and how it impacts the VC HTTP API?
PROPOSAL: Use Case initial timeline will be
Adrian Gropper: This is a real-world use case I am involved in. The use case points out the asymmetric relationship between the issuer (doing the vaccination) and the person receiving the vaccination (could be an undocumented person). That person wants to be sure there is no central registry. In some administrations, that could impact their immigrant status.
Adrian Gropper: The second aspect is how the privacy-preserving Verifiable Credential is delivered to Allie. That is her/his choice (e.g. take photo, or use email, text message, CHAPI, etc.)
<orie> i guess this use case assume that the data model is not HL7/FHIR / attached to an existing patient record?
Adrian Gropper: From the self-sovereignty perspective, as far as the spec is concerned, all of those are in scope. Unless the issuer has a really good reason, they don't get to discriminate the way of receiving the credential is being used.
Adrian Gropper: This is not the same as the earlier issue regarding capabilities.
Manu Sporny: Any comments from anyone in the group?
<orie> This use case belongs in the vaccnination vocab work item
Manu Sporny: It's a good use case, the value is clear. I couldn't draw a straight line from the use case to the VC HTTP API. This use case could also live in other documents. What makes this a VC HTTP API use case?
Adrian Gropper: Both the form how the credential is filled out, and the way how it gets delivered, that's HTTP.
Adrian Gropper: She should be able to do this entirely over HTTP.
Orie Steele: I think that is the connection. In my mind what's tricky about the use case is some assertions about the cross-trust domain aspect of the issuer/holder relationship.
Orie Steele: I think some parts of this is about presentation exchange, rather than VC HTTP API.
Orie Steele: This is in no way related to the Issuance API, which just produces credentials and is considered internal.
Orie Steele: The part of the use case that covers the VC HTTP API is that holders can see issuers that provide credentials with certain privacy characteristics.
Orie Steele: So in summary: adrian's use case is relevant to external holder apis only.
Manu Sporny: Adrian, the HTTP form aspect has nothing to do with the VC HTTP API.
Manu Sporny: The second thing might be related to the VC HTTP API, but for me there is not enough data to understand what specific call of the VC HTTP API returns something to Allie.
<orie> and the "internal issuance apis" in the sense that every VC is related to them.
Mike Prorock: You basically said my concern. Just because the user interaction is over the web, that doesn't necessarily imply it has anything to do with the VC HTTP API.
Mike Prorock: It's a totally valid use case, I'm not sure what is novel about it for the VC HTTP API itself.
<adrian_gropper> I will respond to Manu in terms of requests and presentations.
Orie Steele: +1 Adrian
Adrian Gropper: My perspective is in terms of presentation requests. In GNAP we call this requests. The subject Allie is making requests from the Issuer. Embedded is all sorts of stuff. This is exactly why authorization and delegation are first-class citizens in what we are doing here.
Adrian Gropper: GNAP cares about how you phrase a request. Someone shows up at an authorization server to get something that will be of use (e.g. access token, or capability, or VC).
<orie> what you get back from VC HTTP API is a VC tho... this isn't the ask for anything api...
<orie> this API supports the W3C VC Data Model
<juan_caballero> ^^
Adrian Gropper: The fact that the request comes in to a form may be a stretch.
Adrian Gropper: The point I am making is that it is a request, and the result is the issuance of something.
Orie Steele: Adrian's use case is the same use cases as in the Traceability API.
Adrian Gropper: +1 Orie
Juan Caballero: +1
Orie Steele: Proposal that the VC HTTP API that the holder can request and receive a presentation. This is about presentation exchange. Verifiable presentations moving across trust boundaries between parties.
<mprorock> thanks @orie - that is extremely helpful and makes it much more clear to me
Orie Steele: There were proposals to include this, but people asked for use cases. Now here is a use case.
Orie Steele: We've had a resolution to expand this work item to include cross trust domain contexts.
<adrian_gropper> Presentation or capability... the result is the same
<mprorock> i think the wording was throwing me off
<orie> yea, stop saying capabilities
Juan Caballero: :D
<orie> probably would help
<juan_caballero> names a specific solution-- maybe just call them authorizations, even if the vagueness offends you to the core?
<orie> this API doesn't return objects that are not directly related to the W3C VC Data Model TR....
<orie> we will hit a scope issue if we cross that line.
<adrian_gropper> q
Manu Sporny: Trying to re-state Adrian's use case. Flow diagram would help. The idea is Allie says "I would like to start a presentation flow with you", they contact the Issuer, the issuer responds "you have to give me e.g. first name, last name, PIN code", and maybe Allie responds back with a self-issued VC with first name, last name, then the Issuer matches this against a file so it will respond with a VC (digital vaccination card).
Juan Caballero: @Adrian a 5min way of making a swimlane is using this website:
<juan_caballero> would be greatly appreciated!
Manu Sporny: I think this meets Adrian's requirement and illustrates how the use case is linked to the VC HTTP API.
Manu Sporny: This is one of the next use cases that we do have a flow diagram for.
<orie> pretty sure we already have a flow diagram for this
<orie> ...
Manu Sporny: If we do, it's going to be easy :)
Juan Caballero: I think everyone's asking to shift the proportions of the use case to focus on the API part rather than the VC parts.
Juan Caballero: Adrian I get the sense you want certain architectures not to be blocked by the API work. A swimlane would help people edit with you.
Orie Steele: -1 Adrian
<orie> thats not how VC's work
Manu Sporny: Yeah, big -1
Adrian Gropper: I use a lot of swimlanes, but here's the thing.. Orie put his finger on it. If the interaction between Allie and the Issuer is going to result in a presentation, then that verifiable presentation might as well go directly from the Issuer to the Verifier. That's how we use "presentation" in this world.
<manu_sporny> that's definitely not how we think about things here -- scary phone home issues w/ issuer direct to verifier.
Adrian Gropper: Wheter we use capabilities and attenuations, or if it's done by going through a holder and PIN codes, is irrelevant.
Joe Andrieu: I think Adrian's perspective has a pretty big divergence from the work flow that I understand.
Joe Andrieu: I was surprised to hear you talk about the Issuer giving something directly to the Verifier.
Joe Andrieu: How to you ensure consent that way? That's why the holder is in the loop.
Adrian Gropper: If you read the use, it states that the VC includes a hash. There is absolutely no doubt on the Issuer and Verifier side that they are talking about Allie.
S/use/use case/
Manu Sporny: I wanted to talk about the Permanent Resident Card use case.
Manu Sporny: There is a diagram about the flow.
Manu Sporny: There is a new presentation-based flow, I believe Orie added something;
Orie Steele: We are talking about the three roles that individuals can play in different situations (issuer, holder, verifier). One of the flows of the API is a presentation of credentials about a subject, to a holder.
Orie Steele: Typically the story is that an Issuer gives something to a Holder. Instead of making the use cases vertical-specific, I wrote the use cases in way that explains the operations you need to get credentials from issuer->holder, and holder->verifier. Both cross a trust domain.
Orie Steele: There are few points here. E.g. Subject binding in credential, and privacy implications. Something we talk about this in the sense of subject == holder.
Orie Steele: Use case: Verifiable credential issued by a vet about my dog. I'm the holder but I'm not the subject.
Orie Steele: There is a presentation from someone who is holding it, to a verifier. This is external-facing.
Adrian Gropper: To Orie's use case, there are 3 cross domain relationships: issuer->holder, holder->verifier, issuer->verifier.
Adrian Gropper: I agree with Orie this is all about the externalization.
<> verifier when a holder is not involved... unless I am talking about dystopian tracking futures.
<manu_sporny> q+ on issuer -> verifier
Adrian Gropper: I associate this with GNAP and delegation issues. One example is the difference of having someone also check your passport when they see your vaccination card.
Adrian Gropper: In the use case I propose, Allie doesn't need to have a passport at all.
Adrian Gropper: In the dog example, the assumption is that Allie presents a passport
Adrian Gropper: All three trust relationships always exist, we don't get to choose that in this group.
<> verifier is supported by the W3C VC Data Model TR?
Manu Sporny: Adrian the third one is a very dangerous area. I think I share Orie's and Joe's concerns about Issuers talking directly to Verifiers. There are use cases for this, but it's dangerous and we have to be careful.
<adrian_gropper> It's dangerous not to allow delegation from the satrt
Manu Sporny: Next steps, please add use cases to the document!
<eric_schuh> I can hold it for next week
<juan_caballero> run it!
PROPOSAL: Use Case initial timeline will be
<mprorock> can we run that proposal now
Adrian Gropper: +1
Mike Prorock: +1
Juan Caballero: +1
Manu Sporny: +1
Orie Steele: +1 To having timeliness
Markus Sabadello: +1
Joe Andrieu: +1
RESOLUTION: Use Case initial timeline will be: 4 weeks gathering use cases & retro-documenting existing OAS files’ use-cases (June 10 deadline) and then 4 weeks to distill with a goal of finishing that process by the July 8 meeting.
Orie Steele: I think we should attack the challenge Adrian has put forward. I agree with everything he said, we can draw an arrow between Issuer and Verifier. We should review the relevant sections in the VC data model spec.
Orie Steele: Let's work on this on issues and spec text.
<juan_caballero> thanks all
Manu Sporny: Thanks everyone, see everyone next week.
Manu Sporny: Will send out Doodle poll.