title: What is the relationship between the different WebSocket protocol versions?
body: <p>I recently learned that there are a plethora of WebSocket protocol specifications (a bunch of them named hixie-<em>, another bunch of hybi-</em>, and finally a RFC 6455).</p>
  
  <p>I assumed that hixie- and hybi- were previous drafts, and that the RFC is "the final word" towards all the implementations will eventually converge. However, I was surprised to discover that the RFC is from December 2011, while the latest hybi-* is from February 2012. </p>
  
  <p>Could someone please shed some light? What is the historical development of all those branches and what is the roadmap for the future?</p>
  
  <p>By the way, do those funny names (hixie and hybi) stand for something?</p>