[Bug 4651] Definition of 'consumer' needs clarification

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=4651

           Summary: Definition of 'consumer' needs clarification
           Product: SML
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: Macintosh
        OS/Version: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: Interchange Format
        AssignedTo: cmsmcq@w3.org
        ReportedBy: cmsmcq@w3.org
         QAContact: public-sml@w3.org


The definition of 'consumer' in section 3.1 troubles some WG members,
in particular the verb "understands".  

In discussion during the ftf, various alternatives were proposed;
what is the right way to distinguish consumers as described here
from other processes or agents which might encounter an SML-IF
message?  Are consumers processes which understand the model? (and
if so, what does "understand" mean?)  Are they processes which 
"act on" the model (as opposed to the surface artifacts of
serialization)?  Are they processes which validate the model?  (There
seemed to be consensus that validation is NOT the right touchstone.)

Further discussion of this concept is needed to reach agreement on what
we want as a WG, in addition to whatever editorial effort is needed to
capture that intent accurately and cleanly.

Received on Wednesday, 13 June 2007 20:44:10 UTC