Replace the events array with events_map inside the room objects.

Only use indirection for the state and timeline events.
Use event_ids to reference the state and timeline events.

api/client-server/v2_alpha/definitions/event_batch.json

@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
   "properties": {
     "events": {
       "type": "array",
-      "description": "List of indices into an events array",
+      "description": "List of events",
       "items": {
-        "type": "integer"
+        "type": "object"
       }
     }
   }

api/client-server/v2_alpha/definitions/room_event_batch.json

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "type": "object",
+  "properties": {
+    "events": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "description": "List of event ids",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}

api/client-server/v2_alpha/definitions/timeline_batch.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "type": "object",
-  "allOf": [{"$ref":"definitions/event_batch.json"}],
+  "allOf": [{"$ref":"definitions/room_event_batch.json"}],
   "properties": {
     "limited": {
       "type": "boolean",

api/client-server/v2_alpha/sync.yaml

@@ -71,13 +71,6 @@ paths:
                 description: |-
                   The batch token to supply in the ``since`` param of the next
                   ``/sync`` request.
-              events:
-                type: array
-                description: |-
-                  A list of event objects that are referred to by index in the
-                  rest of the ``sync`` response.
-                items:
-                  type: object
               rooms:
                 type: array
                 description: |-
@@ -89,11 +82,20 @@ paths:
                       type: string
                       description: |-
                         The ID of the room.
+                    event_map:
+                      type: object
+                      description: |-
+                        A map from event ID to events for this room. The events
+                        are referenced from the ``timeline`` and ``state`` keys
+                        for this room.
+                      additionalProperties:
+                        description: An event object.
+                        type: object
                     state:
                       description: |-
                         The state updates for the room.
                       allOf:
-                        - $ref: "definitions/event_batch.json"
+                        - $ref: "definitions/room_event_batch.json"
                     timeline:
                       description: |-
                         The timeline of messages and state changes in the room.
@@ -120,12 +122,17 @@ paths:
             application/json: |-
               {
                 "next_batch": "s72595_4483_1934",
+                "private_user_data": {
                   "events": [
                     {
                       "sender": "@bob:example.com",
                       "type": "com.example.weird.setting",
                       "content": {"setting1": true, "setting2": false}
+                    }
+                  ]
                 },
+                "public_user_data": {
+                  "events": [
                     {
                       "sender": "@alice:example.com",
                       "type": "m.profile.display_name",
@@ -135,47 +142,56 @@ paths:
                       "sender": "@alice:example.com",
                       "type": "m.presence",
                       "content": {"presence": "online"}
+                    }
+                  ]
                 },
-                  {
+                "rooms": [{
                   "room_id": "!726s6s6q:example.com",
-                    "type": "m.typing",
-                    "content": {"user_ids": ["@alice:example.com"]}
-                  },
-                  {
+                  "event_map": {
+                    "$66697273743031:example.com": {
                       "sender": "@alice:example.com",
-                    "room_id": "!726s6s6q:example.com",
                       "type": "m.room.member",
                       "state_key": "@alice:example.com",
                       "content": {"membership": "join"},
                       "origin_server_ts": 1417731086795
                     },
-                  {
+                    "$7365636s6r6432:example.com": {
                       "sender": "@bob:example.com",
-                    "room_id": "!726s6s6q:example.com",
                       "type": "m.room.member",
                       "state_key": "@bob:example.com",
                       "content": {"membership": "join"},
                       "origin_server_ts": 1417731086795
                     },
-                  {
+                    "$74686972643033:example.com": {
                       "sender": "@alice:example.com",
-                    "room_id": "!726s6s6q:example.com",
                       "type": "m.room.message",
                       "unsigned": {"age": "124524", "txn_id": "1234"},
                       "content": {"body": "I am a fish", "msgtype": "m.text"},
                       "origin_server_ts": 1417731086797
                     }
-                ],
-                "private_user_data": {"events": [0]},
-                "public_user_data": {"events": [1, 2]},
-                "rooms": [{
-                  "room_id": "!726s6s6q:example.com",
-                  "ephemeral": {"events": [3]},
-                  "state": {"events": [4, 5]},
+                  },
+                  "state": {
+                    "events": [
+                      "$66697273743031:example.com",
+                      "$7365636s6r6432:example.com"
+                    ]
+                  },
                   "timeline": {
-                    "events": [5,6],
+                    "events": [
+                      "$7365636s6r6432:example.com",
+                      "$74686972643033:example.com"
+                    ],
                     "limited": true,
                     "prev_batch": "t34-23535_0_0"
+                  },
+                  "ephemeral": {
+                    "events": [
+                      {
+                        "room_id": "!726s6s6q:example.com",
+                        "type": "m.typing",
+                        "content": {"user_ids": ["@alice:example.com"]}
+                      }
+                    ]
                   }
                 }]
               }