Re: $variables

Hi Karen, all,
the scopes section is now re-worked and available for review in the online
version

 - http://w3c.github.io/data-shapes/shacl/#scopes
 -
https://github.com/w3c/data-shapes/commit/674ddaa3f858df306cf3e8e8f9b2932ff9397bdf

On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 10:11 PM, Karen Coyle <kcoyle@kcoyle.net> wrote:

> That's considerably better, Dimitris. I think that using the name of the
> variable as the placeholder, which is done in other parts of the spec, is a
> guarantee of confusion. As I recall, we fixed some of those in the
> examples, but maybe now we should go through the text as well.
>
> kc
>
> On 7/8/16 9:01 AM, Dimitris Kontokostas wrote:
>
>> the confusing part here is $nodescope as Karen already noted. We use
>> $nodeScope as a variable placeholder here that is the confusing part, if
>> you replace this with an actual value things should be easier to
>> understand
>>
>> earlier we have
>>
>> 2.1 Scopes
>> Scopes specify which nodes in the data graph are considered in-scope for
>> a shape and SHACL includes four core scope types: node scopes,
>> class-based scopes, property scopes, and inverse property scopes.
>> ...
>>
>> 2.1.1 Node scopes (sh:scopeNode)
>> e.g.
>> a node scope with value X, defines X as the node in-scope in the data
>> graph
>> or
>> a node scope with value e.g. "ex:Node", defines "ex:Node" as the node
>> in-scope in the data graph
>>
>> The way I would rephrase it is the following: remove the first sentence
>> and adjust the second one as this:
>> Node scopes <http://w3c.github.io/data-shapes/shacl/#dfn-node-scope> are
>> defined with the |sh:scopeNode| predicate. The values
>> <http://w3c.github.io/data-shapes/shacl/#dfn-values> of |sh:scopeNode|
>> can
>> be a IRIs <http://w3c.github.io/data-shapes/shacl/#dfn-iri> or literals
>> <http://w3c.github.io/data-shapes/shacl/#dfn-literal>. Each value of a
>> node scope defines a node in-scope in the data graph
>>
>>
>> would this be easier to understand?
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 6:11 PM, Arnaud Le Hors <lehors@us.ibm.com
>> <mailto:lehors@us.ibm.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     Ok, but this isn't just a matter of hiding this when SPARQL is
>>     hidden. I still want to understand what that sentence means when
>>     SPARQL isn't hiddene. So, can you tell me what this sentence is
>>     supposed to be saying?
>>
>>     A node scope with value $scopeNode, defines $scopeNode as the node
>>     in-scope in the data graph.
>>
>>     The way it reads to me is that a node scope has a variable
>>     $scopeNode as a value, and that this defines the variable as the
>>     "node in-scope". What does it mean for a scope node to have a value?
>>     And How does a node scope with a value define the value as the "node
>>     in-scope"? And shouldn't that rather be "node in scope"??
>>
>>     As I said I just can't parse this sentence. I'd appreciate if
>>     someone could rephrase.
>>
>>     Unfortunately the spec remains hard to read and understand because
>>     of stuff like this so I second the sentiment Karen conveys from the
>>     community she represents. I understand English isn't the editors'
>>     primary language and that's ok but given that I strongly encourage
>>     them to welcome comments pointing these problems out.
>>
>>     Thanks.
>>     --
>>     Arnaud  Le Hors - Senior Technical Staff Member, Open Web
>>     Technologies - IBM Cloud
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>     From:        Dimitris Kontokostas
>>     <kontokostas@informatik.uni-leipzig.de
>>     <mailto:kontokostas@informatik.uni-leipzig.de>>
>>     To:        Arnaud Le Hors/Cupertino/IBM@IBMUS
>>     Cc:        Karen Coyle <kcoyle@kcoyle.net
>>     <mailto:kcoyle@kcoyle.net>>, public-data-shapes-wg
>>     <public-data-shapes-wg@w3.org <mailto:public-data-shapes-wg@w3.org>>
>>     Date:        07/08/2016 01:38 AM
>>     Subject:        Re: $variables
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>>     You are right,
>>     although the button exists we the spec does not flow well in some
>>     cases when the sparql definitions are hidden
>>     Holger created an issue to track this and we will try to have it
>>     ready for review by the next call
>>
>>     On Fri, Jul 8, 2016 at 8:09 AM, Arnaud Le Hors <_lehors@us.ibm.com_
>>     <mailto:lehors@us.ibm.com>> wrote:
>>     I have to agree with Karen. In fact, I will admit that I don't
>>     understand what this sentence means:
>>
>>     A node scope with value $scopeNode, defines $scopeNode as the node
>>     in-scope in the data graph.
>>
>>     Actually, I can't even quite parse this sentence. What's with that
>>     comma? What's the subject of "defines"?
>>
>>     I do understand the following:
>>
>>     Node scopes are defined with the sh:scopeNode predicate. The values of
>>     sh:scopeNode can be a IRIs or literals.
>>
>>     Although the "a" seems to be a typo.
>>     --
>>     Arnaud  Le Hors - Senior Technical Staff Member, Open Web
>>     Technologies - IBM Cloud
>>
>>
>>     Karen Coyle <_kcoyle@kcoyle.net_ <mailto:kcoyle@kcoyle.net>> wrote
>>     on 07/07/2016 08:52:00 PM:
>>
>>     > From: Karen Coyle <_kcoyle@kcoyle.net_ <mailto:kcoyle@kcoyle.net>>
>>     > To: _public-data-shapes-wg@w3.org_
>>     <mailto:public-data-shapes-wg@w3.org>
>>
>>     > Date: 07/07/2016 08:53 PM
>>     > Subject: Re: $variables
>>
>>     >
>>     >
>>     >
>>     > On 7/7/16 4:59 PM, Holger Knublauch wrote:
>>     > >
>>     > >
>>     > > On 8/07/2016 9:45, Karen Coyle wrote:
>>     > >>
>>     > >>
>>     > >> On 7/7/16 3:42 PM, Holger Knublauch wrote:
>>     > >>>
>>     > >>>
>>     > >>> On 8/07/2016 8:35, Karen Coyle wrote:
>>     > >>>> On the call today I was told that the way to avoid the
>>     complication of
>>     > >>>> the $variables in the spec is to choose not to view the
>>     SPARQL in the
>>     > >>>> draft. However, even with the SPARQL hidden, the $variables
>>     are still
>>     > >>>> visible since they are part of the explanatory text. So this
>>     does not
>>     > >>>> solve the problem, and in fact it probably makes it worse
>> because
>>     > >>>> without the SPARQL the $variables make even less sense. For
>>     example,
>>     > >>>> with SPARQL definitions hidden, you see:
>>     > >>>>
>>     > >>>> **********
>>     > >>>>
>>     > >>>> 2.1.1 Node scopes (sh:scopeNode)
>>     > >>>>
>>     > >>>> A node scope with value $scopeNode, defines $scopeNode as the
>>     node
>>     > >>>> in-scope in the data graph.
>>     > >>>>
>>     > >>>> Node scopes are defined with the sh:scopeNode predicate. The
>>     values of
>>     > >>>> sh:scopeNode can be a IRIs or literals.
>>     > >>>>
>>     > >>>> *************
>>     > >>>>
>>     > >>>> I think they need to be removed from the text, and moved into
>> the
>>     > >>>> SPARQL code area, and the text should be complete without
>>     using them.
>>     > >>>
>>     > >>> That would be fine with me. I had used the values in
>> SPARQL-like $
>>     > >>> notation to make it easier to read for those who are familiar
>> with
>>     > >>> SPARQL because the SPARQL query and its description would
>>     match. But if
>>     > >>> the WG thinks this is too geeky, we can just drop the $ sign
>>     and change
>>     > >>> the CSS style around these variables.
>>     > >>>
>>     > >>> I do wonder what audience are we talking about here? What in
>>     particular
>>     > >>> is difficult to understand about the $ variables? The spec is
>>     not a
>>     > >>> tutorial...
>>     > >>>
>>     > >>> Holger
>>     > >>
>>     > >> Holger, you always trot out this "not a tutorial" like anyone
>>     who has
>>     > >> any problem with the spec is some kind of backward dunce. I
>>     wish you
>>     > >> would be less condescending and more open to hearing
>>     suggestions. The
>>     > >> folks who brought this up are key RDF programmers on projects
>> like
>>     > >> Europeana and DPLA. Hardly novices. But believe them when they
>> say
>>     > >> that it makes the reading and comprehension more difficult. Do
>> not
>>     > >> disparage them.
>>     > >
>>     > > The suggested change here is to drop the $ character before
>> variable
>>     > > names in the scope section. I am really surprised this would make
>> a
>>     > > difference, but said I have no problems with that.
>>     >
>>     > I'm pretty sure it isn't just a matter of dropping the $ - it
>> doesn't
>>     > make sense to say:
>>     >
>>     > "A node scope with value scopeNode, defines scopeNode as the node
>>     > in-scope in the data graph."
>>     >
>>     > So some more adjustment of the text is going to be needed.
>> Especially
>>     > because there is sometimes more about SPARQL in the text, such as:
>>     >
>>     > *********
>>     > 2.1.1 Node scopes (sh:scopeNode)
>>     >
>>     > A node scope with value $scopeNode, defines $scopeNode as the node
>>     > in-scope in the data graph.
>>     >
>>     > Node scopes are defined with the sh:scopeNode predicate. The
>>     values of
>>     > sh:scopeNode can be a IRIs or literals.
>>     >
>>     > The following SPARQL query specifies the semantics of node scopes.
>>     The
>>     > variable $scopeNode is assumed to be pre-bound to the given value of
>>     > sh:scopeNode.
>>     >
>>     > *******
>>     >
>>     > It doesn't make sense to say "The following SPARQL query...." when
>>     the
>>     > SPARQL query is hidden.
>>     >
>>     > If we can agree on parameters of the edits, I'd be happy to pitch
>>     in a
>>     > do some or all of the work. I'd say that the last paragraph
>>     belongs with
>>     > the SPARQL code, and the first sentence needs a different value
>>     example,
>>     > which should be uniform throughout where possible.
>>     >
>>     > I'd also reverse the first two paragraphs, which I think increases
>>     > readability.
>>     >
>>     > kc
>>     >
>>     > >
>>     > > What else would be needed to make the document more readable for
>> the
>>     > > audience you are referring to?
>>     > >
>>     > > Anyway, I think you are over-reacting in your personal
>>     criticism. I am
>>     > > merely collecting information to help me fulfill my editing
>>     role. If I
>>     > > were to accept every single viewpoint without asking for
>>     clarifications
>>     > > we would never reach a fixpoint - there are just too many
>> different
>>     > > viewpoints and potential audiences here.
>>     > >
>>     > > Holger
>>     > >
>>     > >
>>     > >
>>     >
>>     > --
>>     > Karen Coyle
>>     > _kcoyle@kcoyle.net_ <mailto:kcoyle@kcoyle.net>_http://kcoyle.net_
>>     <http://kcoyle.net/>
>>
>>     > m: 1-510-435-8234
>>     > skype: kcoylenet/_+1-510-984-3600_ <tel:%2B1-510-984-3600>
>>     >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>     --
>>     Dimitris Kontokostas
>>     Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig & DBpedia
>>     Association
>>     Projects: _http://dbpedia.org_ <http://dbpedia.org/>,
>>     _http://rdfunit.aksw.org_ <http://rdfunit.aksw.org/>,
>>     _http://aligned-project.eu_ <http://aligned-project.eu/>
>>     Homepage: _http://aksw.org/DimitrisKontokostas_
>>     Research Group: AKSW/KILT _http://aksw.org/Groups/KILT_
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dimitris Kontokostas
>> Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig & DBpedia
>> Association
>> Projects: http://dbpedia.org, http://rdfunit.aksw.org,
>> http://aligned-project.eu
>> Homepage: http://aksw.org/DimitrisKontokostas
>> Research Group: AKSW/KILT http://aksw.org/Groups/KILT
>>
>>
> --
> Karen Coyle
> kcoyle@kcoyle.net http://kcoyle.net
> m: 1-510-435-8234
> skype: kcoylenet/+1-510-984-3600
>
>


-- 
Dimitris Kontokostas
Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig & DBpedia Association
Projects: http://dbpedia.org, http://rdfunit.aksw.org,
http://aligned-project.eu
Homepage: http://aksw.org/DimitrisKontokostas
Research Group: AKSW/KILT http://aksw.org/Groups/KILT

Received on Tuesday, 12 July 2016 17:05:48 UTC