Re: Dataset Syntax - checking for consensus

Hi Sandro,

This discussion had already started when I joined the WG and as I caught 
it midstream I thought it was about extending Turtle. I've since then 
realized that this wasn't the intent and everybody seems to agree with 
that but I must admit that I still don't know why. Could you please 
explain or point me to some reference I could read to catch up on that?

I have to say that the proliferation of formats for RDF makes me a bit 
nervous. This doesn't go along with making RDF simpler for the 
masses/industry and facilitating adoption.

Thanks.
--
Arnaud  Le Hors - Software Standards Architect - IBM Software Group


Sandro Hawke <sandro@w3.org> wrote on 09/25/2012 04:14:25 PM:

> From: Sandro Hawke <sandro@w3.org>
> To: W3C RDF WG <public-rdf-wg@w3.org>, 
> Date: 09/25/2012 04:14 PM
> Subject: Dataset Syntax - checking for consensus
> 
> I'm not sure how much progress we'll be able to make on dataset 
> semantics tomorrow, so I thought I'd draft some proposals on dataset 
> syntax.   The chairs can put this on the agenda is they like (but it's 
> too short notice for these decisions to be binding yet).  I'm thinking 
> it would be useful to see how close we are to agreement on these issues.
> 
> If you followup with votes, please use -1 for Formal Objection, 0 for 
> abstain, +1 for approve.   Numbers in between are fine, too.
> 
> PROPOSED: We will produce a W3C Recommendation for a dataset syntax, 
> similar to TriG and to SPARQL's named graph syntax.
> 
> PROPOSED: We'll request a media-type for this syntax which is different 
> from the media-type for Turtle.  (That is, we will not consider this 
> language to supplant Turtle and take over the name, becoming the new 
> "Turtle", as was once proposed.)
> 
> PROPOSED: Our dataset syntax will allow for the expression of empty 
> named graphs, whatever their semantics might be (to be decided). The 
> syntax is an empty curly-braces expression, as in "<g> { }".
> 
> PROPOSED: Our dataset syntax will have some standard mechanism (to be 
> determined within the next few weeks) through which a Dataset 
> serialization can include some RDF data about the Dataset (that is, some 

> metadata in the form of an RDF graph).
> 
> 
> Below, there are groups of proposals which are alternative solutions to 
> a design issue.   If you approve of more than one of the alternatives, 
> please vote "+2" for your favorite.
> 
> * Name of the dataset syntax
> 
> PROPOSED: We will call our recommended dataset syntax "trig", 
> capitalized to Trig as needed.
> PROPOSED: We will call our recommended dataset syntax "TriG", but 
> informally and in the media type, "trig".
> PROPOSED: We will call our recommended dataset syntax "TriG", and use 
> that capitalization everywhere.
> 
> * Use of equals sign, like <g> = { <s> <p> <o> } .  This is not in 
> SPARQL but is in traditional TriG, for compatibility with N3.
> 
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, a "=" MAY appear between the name and 
> the graph.
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, a "=" MUST appear between the name and 
> the graph.
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, a "=" MUST NOT appear between the name 
> and the graph.
> 
> * Use of the "graph" keyword, which MUST be used in SPARQL and MUST NOT 
> be used in traditional TriG.
> 
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, the case-insensitive keyword "graph" 
> MAY appear before the name, in a name-graph pair.
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, the case-insensitive keyword "graph" 
> MUST appear before the name, in a name-graph pair.
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, the case-insensitive keyword "graph" 
> MUST NOT appear before the name, in a name-graph pair.
> 
> * Use of curly braces { <a> <b> <c> } around the default graphs.   They 
> MUST be used in traditional TriG, and MUST NOT be used in SPARQL.
> 
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, triples of the dataset's default graph 
> MAY be surrounded by curly braces.
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, triples of the dataset's default graph 
> MUST be surrounded by curly braces.
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, triples of the dataset's default graph 
> MUST NOT be surrounded by curly braces.
> 
> * Some designs for carrying for metadata
> 
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, we'll say that metadata goes in the 
> default graph
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, we'll say that the default graph goes 
> inside curly braces and the metadata goes outside curly braces
> PROPOSED: In our dataset syntax, we'll say that metadata goes inside a 
> set curly braces after a keyword "meta".
> PROPOSED: In out dataset syntax, we'll have a keyword "meta" followed by 

> "default" or the name of a named graph, to indicate to readers where the 

> metadata is.
> 
>