[whatwg] several messages about XML syntax and HTML5

[Ian Hickson]

On Wed, 6 Dec 2006, Mike Schinkel wrote:
> Ian Hickson:
> > Validators are allowed to give any warnings or notes 
> > they like. (The spec only specifies that a validator 
> > must give no errors if there are no errors and must 
> > give at least one error if there are any, IIRC.) 
> 
> Is it possible for the spec to suggest/recommend that validators present 
> warnings in certain circumstances, i.e. in the case of meaningless 
> markup that is nonetheless allowed?

It would be possible, but I'd recommend against it. IMHO that would be a 
user interface issue for the conformance checker, and conformance 
checkers, like all user agents, should compete based on their usefulness. 
The spec tries to keep out of the way of that kind of thing.


> > > 	"Implementors SHOULD NOT use string concatonation and 
> > > 	SHOULD use one of the HTML5 components listed here: 
> > > 	http://wiki.whatwg.org/wiki/Implementations"
> >
> > It is not the job of specifications to limit implementation 
> > strategies.
> 
> Which part of my suggestion did you find limiting: a.) "SHOULD NOT use 
> string concatonation", b.) "SHOULD use one of the HTML5 components 
> listed here:", or c.) both?

Both.


> My *intention* for the wording was to give guidance to implementors such 
> that they avoid all the Bad Things(tm) that you and others rant about

I don't rant about them. :-) I don't think I've actually said anything 
about implementation strategies so far.


> and that they are both "made aware of" and "given permission to use" 
> HTML components instead of string concatonation. I'm sure if I can 
> understand your objections with the effect of my wording I can come up 
> with acceptable wording to achieve the same ends.

IMHO that's the kind of thing that belongs on the wiki or as an opinion 
piece on the blog (feel free to post either). But the spec should stay out 
of the way of such arguments.

-- 
Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
http://ln.hixie.ch/       U+263A                /,   _.. \   _\  ;`._ ,.
Things that are impossible just take longer.   `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'