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re: RDF, Namespaces, and Versioning?

• From: David Megginson <david@m...>
• To: "XML Developers' List" <xml-dev@i...>
• Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 06:55:46 -0500 (EST)

Clark Evans writes:

 > Namespaces are used to name a contract (data interface) between
 > organizations?  Is this their practical application?

Namespaces create globally-unique names.  Once you have
globally-unique names, you can hang your own baggage on those names.

I'd agree that two implications grow out of the use of URIs for
namespaces:

1. [ownership] the namespace URI will be defined by the URI owner (or
   with the owner's permission); and

2. [uniqueness] the URI owner will ensure that the same unique name
   (URI + local part) is not used for two contradictory purposes.

In other words, I cannot define the namespace URI
"http://www.microsoft.com/ns/", and I cannot use
"{http://www.megginson.com/ns}result" in two different specs for two
completely different purposes.

 > If so, then, the biggest problem I see, is handling versions.
 > >From my experience with any type of data format or exchange,
 > the version of the format (or schema) is _very_ important.

As far as Namespaces is concerned, the namespace URI is a black box -- 
it doesn't point to anything, and it doesn't mean anything.  The
creator, however, is free to add internal structure:

  http://www.megginson.com/ns/business/1999-01-29/
  http://www.megginson.com/ns/business/1999-02-09/

etc.


All the best,


David

-- 
David Megginson                 david@m...
           http://www.megginson.com/

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• Follow-Ups:
  • what is "completely different" [Re: RDF, Namespaces, and Versioning?]
    • From: james anderson <James.Anderson@m...>
  • Re: RDF, Namespaces, and Versioning?
    • From: Clark Evans <clark.evans@m...>

• References:
  • Re: Storing Lots of Fiddly Bits (was Re: What is XML for?)
    • From: Marcelo Cantos <marcelo@m...>
  • Re: Storing Lots of Fiddly Bits (was Re: What is XML for?)
    • From: Paul Prescod <paul@p...>
  • Re: Storing Lots of Fiddly Bits (was Re: What is XML for?)
    • From: Clark Evans <clark.evans@m...>
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    • From: Paul Prescod <paul@p...>
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    • From: Clark Evans <clark.evans@m...>

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