Re: [widgets] P&C Last Call comments, versioning

On 6/2/09 11:39 AM, Marcin Hanclik wrote:
> Hi Marcos,
>
>>> What version of the configuration document format is
>>> denoted by the namespace.
> So there is versioning, but it is based on namespace and not on version attribute.
> This is just syntactical issue.

It's more of a conceptual issue with _real_ technical implications.

>>> I have no idea what SML is.
> I have also little idea about it, but it is one of W3C specs, similarly to P&C and it was released not so long time ago.
> My comments are trying to give more general perspective for W3C specs.
> So this comment is more addressed to TAG, I think.
>
>>>> The usage of the "version" attribute in P&C seems to be the first usage of this attribute for document version and
>>> not for specification format versioning.
>
>>> exactly.
> So why are you doing that?

the intent of "version" in P&C is so developers can identify releases, 
mostly for marketing/promotion reasons ("I fixed a bug so I'm gonna 
re-ship my app with 2.0 so people think it's heaps better!").

> I think consistency is a good principle - also among not much related specs, but all coming from W3C - and could be followed.

<rant>
No, we won't just blindly follow what other people/w3c do (as this 
thread has already pointed out, there have been many many blunders with 
regards to versioning and technologies in general at the W3C, to the 
point where the TAG findings need revision). To quote from ISO, 
"Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science, 
technology and experience, and aimed at the promotion of optimum 
community benefit”[1]. To get good results, we must assume that 
everything is wrong and everything must be scrutinized and evaluated. 
Nothing can be taken blindly and on faith - if we have learned anything 
from Tim Berners-Lee and the W3C, is that we should inquire in and upon 
everything.
</rant>

[1] Vries, H. J. (2006). IT Standard Topology. In K. Jakobs (Ed.), 
Advanced Topics In Technology Standards and
Standardization Research (Vol. I). Pennsylvania: Idea-Group.

Received on Tuesday, 2 June 2009 11:20:09 UTC