RE: versioning...

I was just writing a post on this exact topic. Actually, SAML is still using
Major and Minor version numbers.

The argument goes:

Using URIs as version identifiers does not provide sufficient information to
an application. In particular there is no ordering defined on URIs. 

So it is not possible to use the URI alone to obtain the information one
traditionally requires from a version number scheme, i.e.

Major version of request is higher than that supported
	Indicates a protocol incompatibility

Minor version of request is higher than that supported
	Indicates that the request is supported but a software update might
be advisable.

etc. etc.


I do not think that we get enough out of the URI alone so yes, I think we
should keep the major/minor version tags.


Phillip Hallam-Baker FBCS C.Eng.
Principal Scientist
VeriSign Inc.
pbaker@verisign.com
781 245 6996 x227


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stephen Farrell [mailto:stephen.farrell@baltimore.ie]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 12:34 PM
> To: www-xkms@w3.org
> Subject: versioning...
> 
> 
> 
> (Since there's not been discussion on Joeseph's issues/proposal
> mail, I'm starting threads on each of his issues in the hope
> that that'll be easier for folks to process. If I feel like it,
> I'll also say what I think.)
> 
> Joseph wondered:
> > Why do we need required Major and Minor versions? Please use
> > namespace/URIs. (Is the Minor/MajorVersion somehow define 
> the semantic of 
> > the "Success" if it changed between versions?) 
> 
> And I tend to agree. I suspect that this was something in common
> with the SAML specification, but since SAML's changed to use
> URIs and its the right thing to do anyway (at least IMHO), I'd
> be for changing.
> 
> Stephen.
> 
> -- 
> ____________________________________________________________
> Stephen Farrell         				   
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