RE: Content sniffing, feed readers, etc. (was HTML interpreter vs. HTML user agent)

On Sat, 30 May 2009, Larry Masinter wrote:
> >
> > Note that this section is scheduled for demolition as soon as Adam 
> > publishes his I-D as an RFC so that I have something to reference. The 
> > text in the HTML5 spec isn't being updated anymore and is only there 
> > so that implementors have something to reference.
> 
> Please explain "his I-D" which lists "I. Hickson" as an author.

Adam is primarily editing the draft at this point; he credits me merely as 
a kind acknowledgement because I wrote the bulk of the original text.


> Please compare "publish <personal> I-D as an RFC" against the
>   (well-documented) IETF process with respect to technical review,
>   and the documented decision process of RFC Editor and IESG.

Publishing involves technical review, yes. There is no difference.


> Please explain why said I-D is not "something to reference"
>    that "implementors have".

I guess I could point to the I-D, but that seems like something that is 
normally frowned upon. If that is the preferred method of operating, 
though, I guess I can do that. Are I-D URLs permanent? I was under the 
impression that I-Ds expired.


> Please explain why either:
>    * giving implementors text in the HTML5 spec
>      which doesn't match text in the I-D is a good idea.
>    * not updating text in the I-D to respond to technical
>      criticism of the I-D
>   are good ideas.

Neither are good ideas. The former will not last long; the latter will not 
happen at all (though of course since Adam has received contradictory 
feedback, not everyone's feedback can be fully applied).

HTH,
-- 
Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
http://ln.hixie.ch/       U+263A                /,   _.. \   _\  ;`._ ,.
Things that are impossible just take longer.   `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'

Received on Saturday, 30 May 2009 08:50:19 UTC