>REST is nothing but loosely connected guidelines that nobody uses in the same manner. I don't see a problem with this. In fact, I'd love it if everyone accept

>REST is nothing but loosely connected guidelines that nobody uses in the same manner. I don't see a problem with this. In fact, I'd love it if everyone accepted this instead of whining that something isn't truly "RESTful." For instance, the app I'm working on deliberately does not implement HATEOAS. I appreciate the academic effort behind REST and RESTfulness, but ultimately I view it only as an ideal to tend toward. As you said, it's a guideline.