- From: Henrik Dvergsdal <henrik.dvergsdal@hibo.no>
- Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:51:43 +0200
- To: public-html@w3.org
On 15. apr. 2007, at 15.00, Henri Sivonen wrote: >> Is it possible to specify all machine-checkable criteria in >> XHTML5 by means of: >> >> A RELAX NG schema which refers to >> >> 1. A datatype library >> >> 2. A set of formal rules, specifying, for instance, table >> integrity requirements > > A RELAX NG schema cannot refer to a generic "set of formal rules". > I take it that you meant to ask if XHTML5 conformance can be > defined as an XML document satisfying a RELAX NG schema and a "set > of formal rules" (without the schema actually doing the referring). > > In theory, yes, but the "set of formal rules" would just be a catch- > all notion for everything that the RELAX NG schema doesn't cover. > To implement a conformance checker, you eventually need to have > running code that checks for all the stuff that the RELAX NG schema > didn't cover. With the current WHATWG spec model, a human (me) > takes English as the input and produces a computer program as the > output. You seem to be suggesting adding an intermediate formalism. What I'm trying to find out here, is wether or not it is possible to produce a specification that is based on more formal frameworks than english prose. We don't need a single all embracing formalism to do that. So fare It looks like we need something like the components I've outlined above. Among other things, this will make it much easier to write and verify applications like your conformance checker. I also think that a lot of competent and standards aware developers will appreciate a specification that draws on well established notations and languages . .. And I think it is fair to think it might perhaps also induce some more rigor into the standard :-) -- Henrik
Received on Sunday, 15 April 2007 14:51:53 UTC