Re: Alternate proposal for new terms for g-snap, g-box and g-text

On Wed, 2011-07-20 at 21:11 -0400, Lee Feigenbaum wrote:
> On 7/20/2011 8:37 PM, Guus Schreiber wrote:
> >
> >
> > On 21-07-2011 02:08, Ian Davis wrote:
> >> I think re-introducing the word "graph" into these new terms
> >> perpetuates the confusion led to the need for g-* terms in the first
> >> place. We recognise that "graph" has subtly different semantics
> >> between sparql and rdf concepts so let's avoid that term.
> >> Here's my suggestion, which I think are unambiguous:
> >>
> >> g-snap: "(mathematical) set of triples"
> >> g-box: "container of a set of triples"
> >> g-text: "serialization of a set of triples"
> >>
> >> One step further could lead us to coin a new term: TripleSet
> >>
> >> g-snap: "TripleSet"
> >> g-box: "TripleSet Container"
> >> g-text: "TripleSet Serialization"
> >
> > Nice proposal. But I think some will object to the use of the term "set"
> > for something that is not (necessarily) a mathematical set.
> >
> > Small variation (but admittedly somewhat ugly):
> > g-snap: "Triple Set"
> > g-box: "Triple Container"
> > g-text: "Triple Serialization"
> 
> At some point I feel we are splitting hairs, but I significantly prefer
> 
> RDF Graph
> RDF Graph container
> RDF Graph serialization
> 
> ...to minting new terms.
> 
> Just because people commonly use RDF graph as shorthand for RDF graph 
> container does not motivate me to abandon such a normal and 
> well-established term.

Let's back up two steps, though.  What about sticking with "triple" as
the single new term, instead of "graph".   So, not "Triple Set" or
"Triple Set" but Ian's first ones, "(mathematical) set of triples",
maybe just "container of triples", and "serialization of (a set of)
triples"?    I kind of like that.   

I've always been annoyed at the term "Graph" -- it's one more
unnecessary hurdle to learning RDF.  Anyone who hasn't studied graph
theory thinks a graph is graphical representation of data (eg an x-y
plot) and has to get over that association.

One other set of proposals:
    g-snap:  (abstract) RDF formula, or RDF compound sentence
    g-box:   RDF knowledge base, or RDF KB
    g-text:  RDF formula (in some language)

(In much of n3/cwm literature, TimBL uses "formula".  Of course, it also
has variables.)

     -- Sandro


> Lee
> 
> >
> > Guus
> >
> >>
> >> A TripleSet is immutable. A TripleSet Container contains exactly one
> >> TripleSet at a time but could be a different TripleSet at different
> >> times so a TripleSet Container is mutable. A TripleSet Serialization
> >> serializes exactly one TripleSet.
> >>
> >> A quick Google search suggests TripleSet is not a term in common use
> >> for other systems.
> >>
> >> In terms of spec changes: replace every occurrence of RDF Graph in the
> >> RDF specs with the term TripleSet
> >>
> >> I think it would be useful to talk about some of the characteristics
> >> of these concepts e.g. equivalence
> >>
> >> Two TripleSets are equivalent if they conform to the bijection defined
> >> at
> >> http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-rdf-concepts-20040210/#section-graph-equality
> >>
> >> (i.e. they differ only in the identity of their blank nodes).
> >>
> >> Two TripleSet Containers are equivalent if their contained TripleSets
> >> are equivalent
> >>
> >> Two TripleSet Serializations are equivalent if they parse to
> >> equivalent TripleSets
> >>
> >> In terms of those "terrible TAG/REST terms":
> >>
> >> A URI can denote a TripleSet Container. Dereferencing that URI should
> >> return a representation consisting of the TripleSet Serialization for
> >> the TripleSet currently contained by the TripleSet Container. A user
> >> agent parses the representation to derive the TripleSet which they
> >> will most likely place into a local TripleSet Container.
> >>
> >> In terms of SPARQL, a dataset consists of TripleSet Containers:
> >>
> >> ( C, ( Ui, Ci ) )
> >>
> >> A more concise name for TripleSet Containers would be a nice to have.
> >> Talis has been using the term Metabox for this concept for a long time
> >> (no prior art, I only recognise the equivalence today :). I don't
> >> think that's a great term to use, but perhaps TripleBox might work?
> >>
> >> Now, sorry to do this to you all, but I am away on holiday after
> >> tomorrow so I won't be around to get into any discussion this email
> >> may generate. I weighed up whether to send it now or wait and decided
> >> it was best to get something sent earlier. I'll pick up any
> >> conversation in a couple of weeks.
> >>
> >> Ian
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Received on Thursday, 21 July 2011 05:22:01 UTC