Re: The argument for |bugmode| (was Re: If we have versioning, it should be in an attribute, not the doctype)

On 18-Apr-07, at 1:27 PM, Chris Wilson wrote:

> Dannii wrote:
>> And it can be left out completely? Sounds very good.
>
> If we decide on a version attribute rather than part of the  
> doctype, then I must insist if the version is omitted it must  
> default to 5.  "Default is whatever the latest version is" is  
> unacceptable, for authoring as well as for compatible behavior in  
> our browser.
>
> -C

Isn't the question of what to default to an implementation detail for  
the UA developers? Is this REALLY a spec issue?

I propose that we add an optional version attribute.

*  Microsoft (or whomever else wants) can use it for their opt-in,  
and, in the absence of the version attribute, default to html5 or  
html6 or almost standards mode or whatever if they choose.

*  Apple, Mozilla, Opera, etc can choose to ignore it and default to  
Latest Standard mode whether it is there or not.

*  Web authors will do what they've always done and work around the  
implementations.

If it doesn't already exist, I also propose the design principle:  
"The Spec cannot solve all problems".

Received on Thursday, 19 April 2007 07:02:46 UTC