Re: An HTML language specification

ext Henri Sivonen wrote:
> 
> On Nov 16, 2008, at 11:47, James Graham wrote:
> 
>> I am wary of any attempt to create a second, normative, document aimed 
>> only at authors. Every time there is more than one "definitive" source 
>> for the same information there is the possibility of conflicts, 
>> leading to confusion. 

....

and

> 
> I agree. However, I do think "HTML: The Markup Language" is a useful 
> document--at least for language lawyer types. Instead of characterizing 
> it as a normative "language spec", I think it would be better to 
> characterize it as an informative HTML5 reference for document producers 
> and to make clear that instead of being a normative source document, it 
> combines content from from the normative spec and from particular 
> implementations.

....

Are we not then talking simply about a modularity issue?

In other words, would it not be possible to make a normative HTML5 
language specification, and then reference that specification from 
another that defined APIs and so on?

One definitive source for the language, and a further definitive source 
for the API, referencing the language specification.

Regards,

- johnk