Re: Justification for the cite attribute on ins&del

Hi,

On Oct 17, 2007, at 22:27, Mark Birbeck wrote:

>> Given that the language feature hasn't gained UA support in a decade,
>> I think it is time to reassess the demand for the feature and how
>> well the feature addresses the demand if there even is demand. See
>> also[2].
>
> By that definition there would be no need to write any specifications,
> since whatever we already have is exactly what we wanted all along. :)

We need specs that document how to consume Web content in order to  
lower the cost of consuming Web content.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't introduce new features in specs.

> If browsers had implemented everything that was useful in the various
> standards, then we wouldn't be in the middle of the Ajax revolution.

It's interesting that you use that example, since the Ajax revolution  
is based on features that were introduced in browsers without prior  
committee work and are being documented after-the-fact.

> The enormous number of useful features being implemented via script
> libraries--and the widespread use of these libraries--shows that there
> is a demand for more than current UAs deliver.

Sure, but we are not discussing a feature in such demand in this case.

> But it's not as if the browser vendors haven't had an opportunity  
> to implement much more...they've had years.

More to the point, the cite='' attribute has had ample opportunity to  
show its fitness in the marketplace. It has had a decade.

> Which means the *last* thing one should use as a yardstick by which to
> determine inclusion in a standard, is whether it has been adopted by
> one or other browser vendor!

When a feature has failed for a decade in terms of implementation  
priorities, I think it reasonable to consider implementation status-- 
especially if we wish the spec move to REC one day with two full  
interoperable *implementations*.

-- 
Henri Sivonen
hsivonen@iki.fi
http://hsivonen.iki.fi/

Received on Wednesday, 17 October 2007 19:56:23 UTC