Re: ISSUE-103: substantive issue that requires opinion + discussion

The issue is to use something like cu:prefix:suffix instead of 
[prefix:suffix] for safe CURIE-s.

The argument being

"the [...] syntax effectively introduces a new kind of URI - it extends 
the URI space"

I am not a big fan of the [...] syntax either, I must admit, but I 
consider it as a, well, necessary evil. So the proposal has some merit, 
that is for sure.

But... the problem is that, in my view, CURIE-s do _not_ introduce a new 
kind of URI. From hindsight, calling them CURIE-s (Compact URI) may have 
been a mistake because it suggests that. CURIE-s are some kind of macros 
and not URI-s. (Maybe we should call them URI Macros (URIM), but that is 
too late.) The syntax proposed by Jonathan sort of reinforces the 
(mistaken) view that these _are_ special URI-s. By the way, Jonathan 
says (as a pro argument):

"it would eliminate the need for a new URIor[safe]CURIE datatype since 
you could just use URI"

Which, in view of what I said, is not really true or maybe misleading.

Note that Jonathan also raises some points whose validity I cannot 
really judge at the moment. Is there really a possibility to use a 
relative URI spelled [...], for example? Or a future expansion of the 
URI space that include [...]? I have no example right now for the 
former, but we indeed cannot exclude the danger of the latter. That one 
is, for me, the most compelling argument of his proposal.

Ivan

Ben Adida wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi team,
> 
> In an effort to get to Candidate Rec soon (which will make Ivan quite 
> happy :), I'm going to start email threads on the remaining substantive 
> issues. *Please* read these emails, and please respond with your 
> thoughts ASAP.
> 
> ISSUE-103: a URI-centric approach to CURIEs
> http://www.w3.org/2006/07/SWD/track/issues/103
> 
> Please read this issue and send thoughts. I have thoughts, which I'll 
> contribute once this thread gets going.
> 
> -Ben
> 

-- 

Ivan Herman, W3C Semantic Web Activity Lead
Home: http://www.w3.org/People/Ivan/
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