- From: Kingsley Idehen <kidehen@openlinksw.com>
- Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:41:17 +0100
- To: www-tag@w3.org
On 6/23/11 4:08 PM, Xiaoshu Wang wrote: > The original purpose of httpRange-14, I guess, is to avoid ambiguity. But > ambiguity can only be cleared with more ontological assertions. > httpRange-14 has raised more confusion/debate. Except transferring > ambiguity to a different term, what problem it has solved? Let me try: Ambiguity sources: 1. eradication of URL from lexicon such that we only speak of URIs since a URL is subClassOf URI 2. use of HTTP URIs as Names that may or may not resolve. Problems: The items above adds obscurity to an already obscure subject because end-users and developers are familiar with URLs and how they function as Resource Locators (Addresses). Thus, doing a two-fer that equates to: 1. using URLs as generic Names; 2. taking URL out of lexicon, results in the quandary that http-range-14 is attempting to address. Flip this all around, and the quandary remains. Again, let do another two-fer: 1. using URIs (URL out of lexicon) as generic Names; 2. using URIs as Resource Locators , same difference as per earlier comment. Simply stating that 200 OK implies a document doesn't deliver clarity. A suggestion, that I think could really help. AWWW fundamental goal: Objects have Names and Representation Addresses. Names and Addresses imply specific functionality. An Object Name Identifies an Object while an Object Address is how you access its Representation. Basically, you have a Name & Access functionality combined. HTTP uses 200 OK to basically confirm that an Address is functional with regards to user agent access to a given Resource. It is also safe to assume and infer that 200 OK is also a way of stating that: 1. a URI Names and Address 2. a URI is of type URL (so this is a specific type of URI, the kind that combines Name and Address/Access functionality) 3. a URI that resolves directly to a Resource (data). HTTP uses 303 (in particular) to confirm that a URI isn't an Address (if it was it would 200 OK). Thus, if it isn't an Address it is a generic Name. Basically, 303 delivers good old indirection functionality, and via this functionality you can use URIs as Names that resolve to specific Resources via > 1 level of indirection. What's this really about, ultimately? Reasserting the fact that you can use URIs for generic Names or Addresses (Resource Locators). To the Web end-user and Developer, it means you can use hyperlinks for the following: 1. Naming Things 2. Locating Resources 3. Naming Things in such a way that Names resolve to Resource(s) bearing (carrying) representation(s) of their referents. I hope this helps. I've never found this matter confusing, but I've always struggled with http-range-14 narratives based on the fact that its doesn't provide anecdotes that resonate with its target audience -- Web developers or end-users. -- Regards, Kingsley Idehen President& CEO OpenLink Software Web: http://www.openlinksw.com Weblog: http://www.openlinksw.com/blog/~kidehen Twitter/Identi.ca: kidehen
Received on Thursday, 23 June 2011 21:41:41 UTC