N-Triples - Please encourage ntriples tools to emit *canonical* N-Triples

Regarding section 4, Conformance:
https://dvcs.w3.org/hg/rdf/raw-file/default/rdf-turtle/n-triples.html

It would be helpful if tools that generate N-Triples were strongly 
encouraged to generate it in canonical form unless there would be a 
significant loss to the user in doing so.  For example, if a tool 
normally generates useful information in comments, it may be better to 
generate non-canonical N-Triples, since canonical N-Triples would 
require the comments to be removed.

I suggest adding something like the following to section 4:

   "Tools that generate N-Triples documents SHOULD generate
   **canonical N-Triples documents** unless doing so would
   result in a significant loss in functionality or performance.
   For example, if a tool normally generates useful information
   in comments, it may be preferable to generate non-canonical
   N-Triples, since canonical N-Triples requires comments to be
   removed."

Please note that the RDF 2119 definition of SHOULD is:
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt
[[
3. SHOULD   This word, or the adjective "RECOMMENDED", mean that there
    may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore a
    particular item, but the full implications must be understood and
    carefully weighed before choosing a different course.
]]

Because SHOULD allows this judgement-call-based wiggle room, this change 
would not have to affect any conformance tests.

If the working group decides that a "SHOULD" would be too strong, please 
instead add an editorial comment to the above effect instead, such as by 
saying "are strongly encouraged to" instead of "SHOULD".

Thanks,
David

Received on Tuesday, 3 December 2013 22:42:04 UTC