Re: Should we complete the WebID spec?

On 11/3/23 9:47 AM, Melvin Carvalho wrote:
>
>
> pá 3. 11. 2023 v 14:12 odesílatel Kingsley Idehen 
> <kidehen@openlinksw.com> napsal:
>
>
>     On 11/2/23 9:48 PM, Melvin Carvalho wrote:
>>
>>
>>     pá 3. 11. 2023 v 1:09 odesílatel Kingsley Idehen
>>     <kidehen@openlinksw.com> napsal:
>>
>>
>>         On 11/2/23 5:53 PM, Melvin Carvalho wrote:
>>         > 2. urn scheme for webids:  urn:webid
>>
>>         What's that, and why?
>>
>>         A WebID has always been an HTTP based URI used to name an Agent.
>>
>>
>>     Yes indeed.  But not every authentication process gives a URI
>>     (sadly).  Some will give a string of characters that denote an
>>     Agent, which need to be turned into a URI.
>
>     I didn't see our focus right now being on solving for
>     authentication protocols and URI combinations. I believe the
>     primary objective is to propel WebID forward by delineating its
>     essence and its potential usage, especially within the context of
>     Solid.
>
>     The shift from understanding WebID as an HTTP URI that identifies
>     an Agent to something else doesn't align with the aforementioned goal.
>
>     Presently, we utilize the term NetID for a URI that identifies an
>     Agent, grounded on the reality that we have authentication
>     services accommodating a range of schemes right from the outset.
>
>     The discourse around WebID and Solid Lite seems to diverge
>     slightly from the issues pertinent to a NetID. Furthermore, with
>     billions of pages on the Web currently utilizing HTTP URIs to
>     identify Agents, it seems prudent to harness this established
>     practice with the existing WebID definition.
>
>     Isn't the ultimate aim to employ HTML profile documents,
>     encompassing RDF structured data islands (i.e., metadata
>     articulated through various RDF notations), via a more streamlined
>     derivative of Solid?
>
>
> Kingsley, you are completely correct.  I agree with everything.
>
> I'm just outlining the things I would like to complete to make a 
> working system, bearing in mind that this comunity group may close.
>
> The problem of turning a string into a URI post authentication, is 
> something I'll need to do.
>
> Turning:  "userid" into urn: <something> : userid is a quick hack.  
> Whether it's webid or netid, the software doesnt care, so long as it's 
> consistent.
>
> It would be in this case something like an "indirect identifier" as 
> described in awww.  Example:
>
> "Today 10 Downing Street said that ..."
>
> Of course the building 10 Downing Street didnt say anything.  It's an 
> incorrect sentence.  But the consumers of the sentence understand it 
> well enough.


You handle that using blank nodes, which is basically the default in 
JSON or JSON-LD without explicitly indicating an object id. Bascially, 
your example is ground zero for JSON and JSON-LD where both denote 
subjects using indefinite pronouns (a/k/a blank nodes).

>
> Example:  What is a WebID URN?  A webid URN is a web identifier that 
> is a URI but where the software was unable to locat an HTTP URI but 
> wishes to store the authenticated username as a URI.
>
> I need to get something working in any case, in order to have a 
> pluggable auth system.


My point is that you are swimming against the current if you want to 
venture down this path. More importantly, it cannot be named WebID -- 
since that's a massive change from the original definition.


-- 
Regards,

Kingsley Idehen 
Founder & CEO
OpenLink Software
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