The Canvas 2D API split

There was an original split of the Canvas 2D API[1], and an email list
created, supposedly to maintain it[2]. The proposal was created before
our change procedure was in place, so the item was left as a bug, and
the issue was never cleanly resolved. It just went into some form of
trackless limbo.

Now, Ian has created a split[3], but there's no connection between it
and the previous work, and nothing from the originators of the
original split whether they're interesting in supporting one or the
other[4].

And the split document is confusing. In contains the line:

"This specification is an HTML specification. All the conformance
requirements, conformance classes, definitions, dependencies,
terminology, and typographical conventions described in the core HTML5
specification apply to this specification. [HTML5CORE]"

Actually, it is not an HTML specification. A 2D API is not HTML. And
the document references another document that has already been
rejected by the group, based on the other splits and merges that
happened this week.

There are now two separate proposed splits, neither of which is
tracked, or part of an issue, and neither is there seemingly any path
forward in this group to resolve what I perceive to be a disconnect
between the original bug, and this week's activity.

What II'm proposing is that this bug be grandfathered into the current
Change Proposal process, except that rather than muck about with the
bug, we create an issue for the split. We ask Adrian Bateman, the
originator of the original bug, and Doug Schepers and Eliot Graf if
they concur with submitting their original document as a change
proposal. We also submit Ian's as an alternative proposal, and we call
for a discussion on both, as well as other proposals.

We could potentially end up with a merged document as consensus, but
right now, we have two documents floating around, neither of which is
a FPWD, and neither of which has an official path associated with it.
And I'm not terribly sure that either is a document we can live with
-- a split of this magnitude should be discussed, and a formal
resolution given.

More importantly, we need to determine the proper home for the 2D API.
I do not believe the HTML WG is it. I do believe that it should have
its own working group, and had thought the effort to create the group
was underway.

Though I agree with splitting the 2D API out of the HTML document, I
don't believe the split should be impulsive, and without review and
careful consideration. Or that we allow this seeming disconnect
between the past effort and this week's effort to continue.

Shelley

[1] http://dev.w3.org/html5/canvas-api/canvas-2d-api.html
[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-canvas-api/2009JulSep/0002.html
[3] http://dev.w3.org/html5/2dcontext/Overview.html
[4] http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=8331

Received on Sunday, 10 January 2010 15:11:23 UTC