RE: [css3-2d-transforms][css3-images] <position> grammar is duplicated or points to the wrong spec

Another example to put in the list...

"Why is calc(2em/1em) not allowed?"  I remember the "why" but I don't know anywhere besides the alias archive where it's documented.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Manthos
> Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 10:02 AM
> To: 'Tab Atkins Jr.'
> Cc: Brad Kemper; Sylvain Galineau; L. David Baron; www-style list;
> fantasai
> Subject: RE: [css3-2d-transforms][css3-images] <position> grammar is
> duplicated or points to the wrong spec
> 
> > I've captured precisely that in the wiki as a design principle.  It
> > wouldn't be captured in a CSS spec, because it has nothing to do with
> > CSS-as-it-is-used - it's a design principle that we as spec authors
> > need to follow.
> 
> Going OT slightly...
> 
> Haven't we had prior discussions where it became abundantly clear that
> the spirit and intent of the design not being up-front to authors is
> one of the problems that needs to be addressed?
> 
> As such, shouldn't the design principles be documented *within* the
> specification perhaps as an appendix.
> 
> For example, when reading a CSS2.1 spec that a CSS3 spec is based on
> there are often "surprises" from a literal reading of the text.  Then
> someone raises a question on this (apparently high traffic) alias
> asking for clarity and the answer comes back "oh, that was a minor
> adjustment in CSS2.1 because CSS1 was written by candle light and so
> ...."  Relying on (a modern analog of) oral tradition to understand the
> specification's literal text as well as its intent seems a mistake to
> me.  Lastly, it would be nice to *see* the shift in design principles
> from 1 to 2 to 2.1 to 3 -- both for the completion of 3, and with an
> eye toward planning what shifts will be necessary for 4.
> 
> A wiki can be a great place to collaborate and build consensus, but
> capturing a snapshot of the current design principles *with* each
> specification seems an appropriate additional step.

Received on Thursday, 2 February 2012 18:05:37 UTC