RE: agenda+ How do we feel about installable locales?

Hi Andrew,

 

Thanks for this. You might have a look at the comments I made on https://github.com/tc39/ecma402/pull/780 and maybe consider adding a “thumbs up” or additional comments—or let me know if you think additional changes/comments are needed or if you have other suggestions.

Best regards,

Addison

Addison Phillips

Chair (W3C Internationalization WG)

 

Internationalization is not a feature.

It is an architecture.

 

From: Andrew Cunningham <lang.support@gmail.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 11:24 AM
To: Addison Phillips <addisoni18n@gmail.com>
Cc: Internationalization Working Group <public-i18n-core@w3.org>
Subject: Re: agenda+ How do we feel about installable locales?

 

Addison, 

 

It is something I have been considering since work started on ICU4X. I tend to support lesser used and minority languages as well as mainstream languages. Implementing a locale in CLDR has overheads and barriers so it's much more useful to leverage off libc locales (which are more limited) combined with rule based classes in ICU4C/ICU4J

 

I understand the concerns around fingerprinting but reality is for minority language groups if fingerprinting is a design goal then these groups will be technically marginalised.

 

If locales can not be added to browsers, then either:

 

1. Two architectures and approaches are needed: web browser based solutions for some locales and server based solutions for all others,

2. All locale based operations handled at server not browser, or

3. A rapid program to develop and deploy many more locales. Web browsers would conceivably need to add hundreds (or thousands) of additional locales (and variations) over time. 

 

Andrew

 

 

 

 

On Wed, 10 May 2023, 18:21 Addison Phillips, <addisoni18n@gmail.com <mailto:addisoni18n@gmail.com> > wrote:

https://github.com/tc39/ecma402/pull/780

 

The above PR would forbid browsers from installing a locale (in a bid to prevent fingerprinting). In that regard it can be like the thread we’ve had about fonts. Should we weigh in?

 

Addison Phillips

Chair (W3C Internationalization WG)

 

Internationalization is not a feature.

It is an architecture.