Inconsistent/Redundant Requirements for W3C Spec Conformance

This is a last call comment from Cliff Schmidt (cschmidt@microsoft.com) on
the Character Model for the World Wide Web 1.0
(http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/WD-charmod-20020430/).

Semi-structured version of the comment:

Submitted by: Cliff Schmidt (cschmidt@microsoft.com)
Submitted on behalf of (maybe empty): Microsoft
Comment type: editorial
Chapter/section the comment applies to: 2 Conformance
The comment will be visible to: public
Comment title: Inconsistent/Redundant Requirements for W3C Spec Conformance
Comment:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"[S] Every W3C specification MUST:
1. conform to the requirements applicable to specifications,
2. specify that implementations MUST conform to the requirements applicable to software, and 
3. specify that content created according to that specification MUST conform to the requirements applicable to content.

[S] If an existing W3C specification does not conform to the requirements in this document, then the next version of that specification SHOULD be modified in order to conform."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONCERN:
Stating that all specs "MUST" conform, but that non-conforming specs "SHOULD" be modified appears to be inconsistent.  

RECOMMENDATION:
The conformance model should only apply to future specs (including future versions of current specs), instead of specifying different conformance levels for existing and future versions.  




Structured version of  the comment:

<lc-comment
  visibility="public" status="pending"
  decision="pending" impact="editorial">
  <originator email="cschmidt@microsoft.com" represents="Microsoft"
      >Cliff Schmidt</originator>
  <charmod-section href='http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/WD-charmod-20020430/#sec-Conformance'
    >2</charmod-section>
  <title>Inconsistent/Redundant Requirements for W3C Spec Conformance</title>
  <description>
    <comment>
      <dated-link date="2002-06-06"
        >Inconsistent/Redundant Requirements for W3C Spec Conformance</dated-link>
      <para>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"[S] Every W3C specification MUST:
1. conform to the requirements applicable to specifications,
2. specify that implementations MUST conform to the requirements applicable to software, and 
3. specify that content created according to that specification MUST conform to the requirements applicable to content.

[S] If an existing W3C specification does not conform to the requirements in this document, then the next version of that specification SHOULD be modified in order to conform."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONCERN:
Stating that all specs "MUST" conform, but that non-conforming specs "SHOULD" be modified appears to be inconsistent.  

RECOMMENDATION:
The conformance model should only apply to future specs (including future versions of current specs), instead of specifying different conformance levels for existing and future versions.  

</para>
    </comment>
  </description>
</lc-comment>

Received on Thursday, 6 June 2002 12:23:48 UTC