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RE: Resource Gloss (Human Readable)

• From: "Bullard, Claude L (Len)" <clbullar@i...>
• To: xml-dev@l...
• Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 09:36:56 -0600

It looks like a URL; it will act like one.

The flaw is the conflation of name, location 
and identity but that flaw is the basic feature 
by which the WWW runs so we are stuck there. 
All the handwaving about URN/URI/URL doesn't 
avoid the simple fact that if one puts 
http:// anywhere in browser display space, 
the system colors it blue and puts up a finger.

The monkey expects a resource and when it 
doesn't get one, it shocks the monkey.  
Monkeys don't read specs to find out why 
they should be shocked.  They turn red and 
put up a finger.

That which was declared meaningless  
took on meaning in real time.  It is a 
choice of means to avoid the shock:

1.  Resolve to a schema.  Very useful.  

2.  Resolve to nothing.  If the monkey clicks, 
issue a terse message box explaining that this is a 
name, not a link.

3.  Resolve to something.  There are several 
somethings to choose from.  That is not a bad 
result if the monkey or the system knows how to 
choose.

Returning something that is monkey readable is a function 
of being polite.  Nothing more.  The monkey is assuaged 
by a polite resolve to enable it to choose.

Len
http://www.mp3.com/LenBullard

Ekam sat.h, Vipraah bahudhaa vadanti.
Daamyata. Datta. Dayadhvam.h

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