Re: Comments on draft Browser Testing and Tools Working Group

Shadi Abou-Zahra <shadi@w3.org>, 2011-07-18 09:49 +0200:

> Hi Mike, Philippe,
> 
> As discussed, please find some comments on the draft Browser Testing and
> Tools Working Group $Id: browser-testing-charter.html,v 1.11 2011/07/11
> 14:05:14 mike Exp $. The comments are based on input from Michael Cooper and
> Jeanne Spellman though they may have additions.
> 
> #1. Title <-> scope mismatch
> 
> The WG title "Browser Testing and Tools" seems significantly broader than
> the scope described. A clearer title would be "Web Applications Testing and
> Tools Working Group" or similar.

I chose the title to make it clear what class of applications the proposed
deliverables are limited to. They are meant to be implemented in Web
browsers (instead of, say, in authoring applications).

> #2. Scope missing APIs relevant to accessibility
> 
> In previous discussions Michael Cooper has explained the relevance of APIs
> such as UIAutomation. The relevant references are currently linked from the
> "draft notes" section but not described at all in section 1 "Scope". Without
> a description of the relationship between these APIs there is a risk of
> missing to benefit from existing work (with key players in the field like
> Apple and Microsoft), and re-creating these solutions anew.
> 
> We suggest explaining the relationship to platform APIs and APIs that are
> essential for accessibility as part of this work, even if there is no
> guarantee that the particular instances of these APIs will be part of the
> work. For instance, section 1.1 says:
> 
> [[
> as well as consider any other potential APIs useful in performing automated
> testing of Web applications
> ]]

I removed that phrase from the charter.

> This could be expanded in another sentence or two to describe what the
> "other potential APIs" are. For instance:
> 
> [[
> The group will also consider other potential APIs useful in performing
> automated testing of Web applications such as UIAutomation. In particular,
> the group will consider relevant requirements for accessibility testing of
> web applications.
> ]]

I added mention of Microsoft UI Automation and Apple UI Automation in the
Dependencies and Liaisons section:

  http://www.w3.org/2011/08/browser-testing-charter.html#other-technologies

> Similar applies to section 1.2, which includes work that involves the
> console and platform. It is essential to explain the relationship to the
> platform APIs in this section too.

The Console API has no relationship to platform APIs. The actual "console"
it writes to is a REPL that runs a built-in tool within the browser and
that has no interaction with the platform the browser runs on.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-eval-print_loop

> #3. Milestones (minor typo)
> 
> Rec date should be "Feb 2013" rather than "Feb 2012".

Thanks -- fixed.

> #4. Dependencies with W3C Groups
> 
> Please add "Evaluation and Repair Tools Working Group" and "Protocols and
> Formats Working Group" to the list.

OK, added.

> #5. Dependencies with External Groups
> 
> Please consider organizations such as:
>  - Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA)
>   -- <http://www.atia.org/aia/>
>  - Open Ajax Alliance
>   -- <http://www.openajax.org/>

OK, added.

  --Mike

-- 
Michael[tm] Smith
http://people.w3.org/mike/+

Received on Tuesday, 19 July 2011 13:49:16 UTC