[dxwg] What is a profile?

kcoyle has just created a new issue for https://github.com/w3c/dxwg:

== What is a profile? ==
Many of our issues for the profile guidance document hinge on our definition of profile. I'm going to suggest some functions that a profile must/may/should have as a start to that conversation.

- MUST define vocabulary terms that are used in the metadata being profiled.
- Vocabulary terms SHOULD be defined as mandatory, optional, repeatable, not repeatable (alt.: cardinality rules for vocabulary terms SHOULD be defined in the profile)
- Human-readable labels and definitions MUST be included for vocabulary terms
- The profile SHOULD (MUST?) define what values are valid for vocabulary terms
- The profile MAY include input instructions for metadata creators (and to aid users in understanding the deeper meaning of terms)
- The profile MAY include operational validation code
- The profile MUST be published to the relevant metadata-using community
- The profile MAY be published as a human-readable document
- The profile MAY be published as operational code
- The profile MAY be expressed in more than one physical file
- The profile MAY be based on one or more known community standards, for interoperability within that community ("profile of X")
- The profile MAY combine vocabularies that cross community boundaries without having any strongly identifiable base profile or profiles.

(No, I'm not sure about all of this - just tossing out every idea I can come up with to aid discussion.)
 

Please view or discuss this issue at https://github.com/w3c/dxwg/issues/435 using your GitHub account

Received on Wednesday, 3 October 2018 06:25:30 UTC