RE: length of specifications

Gentlepeople,

This message is a response to [1], in which Martin Duerst correctly 
observed that some W3C specifications are quite large.  Norm Walsh 
responded in [2] with the opinion that monolithic specs are often easier 
and more convenient to download than fragmented specs.

I have been asked to communicate this response to the I18n WG and, 
implicitly, to the Chairs on behalf of the Query editors.  Because this 
comment was submitted to the QT public comments list, I have also responded 
to that list.

The XML Query WG's editors (mailing list archived at [3]) have discussed 
Martin's message and have reached a conclusion substantially the same as 
that expressed in [2].  Specifically, the Query editors believe that even 
users of slow dialup connections will not be well-served by fragmented 
specifications, because they will very frequently find themselves having to 
tediously download many small files, which will consume not only at least 
as much dialup time but also more of their own personal time.

In addition, the Query editors observe that resources are already stretched 
to the breaking point and gratuitously adding the additional burden of 
creating fragmented specifications for dubious advantages is simply not 
going to happen.  Of course, if somebody else in the W3C believes that they 
have the time to perform the splits, I'm sure that some cooperative 
arrangements could be made to allow those other persons to take on the 
responsibilities.

In any case, the Query editors firmly believe that the monolithic 
specifications must be the normative specifications.

Hope this helps,
    Jim

P.S., A thought just occurred to me (which I have not yet discussed with 
any of the other Query editors): If the W3C site were to contain both the 
monolithic HTML file of each specification *and* a compressed file (e.g., 
ZIP, gzip, tar, whatever) containing that monolithic HTML file, perhaps 
everybody's needs could be addressed.  By way of support, I observe the 
largest document that I found in the XQuery suite (Formal Semantics) is 
about 1.7MB in HTML form, but only 176KB in ZIP form (Winzip 8.1) --- a 
10:1 compression.


[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Member/chairs/2004JulSep/0026.html
[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Member/chairs/2004JulSep/0029.html
[3] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Member/w3c-query-editors/

========================================================================
Jim Melton --- Editor of ISO/IEC 9075-* (SQL)     Phone: +1.801.942.0144
   Editor of XQuery F&O, XQueryX, etc.              Fax : +1.801.942.3345
Oracle Corporation        Oracle Email: jim dot melton at oracle dot com
1930 Viscounti Drive      Standards email: jim dot melton at acm dot org
Sandy, UT 84093-1063 USA          Personal email: jim at melton dot name
========================================================================
=  Facts are facts.   But any opinions expressed are the opinions      =
=  only of myself and may or may not reflect the opinions of anybody   =
=  else with whom I may or may not have discussed the issues at hand.  =
========================================================================

Received on Thursday, 12 August 2004 23:01:31 UTC