Re: issue-135 change proposal: canvas context-type registry at the W3C

While this certainly seems like a fine thing to propose, please pursue 
it as a separate bug as it is out of scope for issue-135.

The subject of bug 10921 is the direct link to the W3C version of the 
canvas spec.  The subject of ISSUE-135 is the same.

http://www.w3.org/html/wg/tracker/issues/135
http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=10921

- Sam Ruby

On 03/10/2011 09:27 PM, Michael[tm] Smith wrote:
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1. Summary
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> A means for formally registering context types for the canvas element has
> been identified as a need for HTML5.
>
> With regard to that need, the HTML5 specification currently contains the
> following statement:
>
>    New context types may be registered in the WHATWG Wiki CanvasContexts page.
>    http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-canvas-element.html#the-canvas-element
>
> I propose that instead of that means (registering new context types in the
> WHATWG Wiki), the spec be changed to instead reference a registry following
> the precedent of the XPointer scheme registry[1], and in a way similar to
> the proposed registry for rel tokens outlined in Henri Sivonen's "Rel
> Registry at the W3C" proposal[2] for HTML WG issue 27.
>
>    [1] http://www.w3.org/2005/04/xpointer-schemes/
>    [2] http://www.w3.org/html/wg/wiki/ChangeProposals/RelRegistryAtTheW3C
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 2. Rationale
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Having the spec reference a canvas context-type registry at the WHATWG Wiki
> has met with some objections, as recorded initially in HTML WG bug
> 10921[3], subsequently in issue 135[4], and finally in Steven Faulkner's
> "Add link to Canvas 2d context spec"[5] for issue 135.
>
>    [3] http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=10921
>    [4] http://www.w3.org/html/wg/tracker/issues/135
>    [5] http://www.w3.org/html/wg/wiki/ChangeProposals/RelRegistryAtTheW3C
>
> In addition, a Wiki -- regardless of where it is hosted -- is a suboptimal
> means for maintaining a formal registry of any kind, and should be avoided
> if better means are available. And better means are available -- namely,
> a mechanism similar to the XPointer scheme registry, as proposed here.
>
> The primary advantage that has been suggested for the Wiki-based registry
> for new context types is that it provides a low barrier of entry for
> registering them. A mechanism similar to the XPointer scheme registry
> provides that same low barrier of entry; in fact, it is at least as easy to
> use for registering new context types as a Wiki mechanism, if not easier.
>
> Also, as Henri notes in his "Rel Registry at the W3C" change proposal:
>
>    - "The W3C is already in the registry business in the form of the
>      XPointer scheme registry, so there's both process precedent and
>      existing software for implementing a registry at the W3C"
>
>    - This registry-hosting scenario provides for maintenance "on a site with
>      multiple sysadmins responding to failure situations and with more
>      resources to enable the longevity of the registry URL."
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 3. Details
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Step 1. Deploy a canvas context-type registry at the W3C.
>
> The logistics of deploying the registry would be similar to those outlined
> in the Details section of the "Rel Registry at the W3C" change proposal:
>
>    http://www.w3.org/html/wg/wiki/ChangeProposals/RelRegistryAtTheW3C#Details
>
> Step 2. Change the spec to reference the registry instead of the Wiki.
>
> After the canvas context-type registry has actually been deployed, update
> the HTML5 spec to reference it instead of the Wiki. Specifically, take the
> following statement:
>
>    New context types may be registered in the _WHATWG Wiki CanvasContexts page_.
>
> ...and replace it with this statement:
>
>    New context types may be registered in the _canvas context-types registry_.
>
> ...where _canvas context-types registry_ is a hyperlink to the new registry.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 4. Positive Effects
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>    - Extremely low barrier of entry for registering new canvas context types
>
>    - The registry will be maintained on a site with multiple sysadmins
>      responding to failure situations and with more resources to enable the
>      longevity of the registry URL.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 5. Negative Effects
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> None.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 6. Conformance-class changes
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> None.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 7. Risks
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> None.
>

Received on Friday, 11 March 2011 12:23:45 UTC