RESTful is not a spec, as has been pointed out: it's an idea. It's much more like other large-scale design patterns than it is a protocol. Think "object oriente

RESTful is not a spec, as has been pointed out: it's an idea. It's much more like other large-scale design patterns than it is a protocol. Think "object oriented," or "procedural," not "http" or "tcp." There is only one correct way to implement/use a protocol, but there are many valid expressions of a pattern or idea. It's more or less accepted, I think, that the vast majority of "RESTful" implementation don't obey all the original (15 year old!) guidelines.