xml-dev - Re: Irony heaped on irony

[Al Gilman <asgilman@iamdigex.net>]

At 12:06 PM 2000-05-26 -0400, Paul W. Abrahams wrote:
>David Brownell wrote:
>
>> The "XML Namespaces" specification is quite clear that the
>> purpose of a namespace "Universal Resource IDENTIFIER" is
>> identification, not location.
>>
>> Were the purpose of those namespace URIs to be location
>> (as in:  dereference to get a schema) then the spec would
>> have used a "Universal Resource LOCATOR".
>>
>> URIs are very fit for the purpose of identification.  And
>> that's the task/purpose identified in the namespace spec.
>>
>> There's a clear line between identifying something ("my auto,
>> which has been stolen" -- it's got a Vehicle IDENTIFICATION
>> number [VIN] too!) and locating it.
>
>There's a difference between a VIN and a namespace name.  A VIN identifies a
>particular object such as your car.   A namespace name need not be associated
>with any object, real or virtual, at all.  The problem with URIs is that
>they're overloaded with an irrelevant significance, namely, identifying
>resources.   Any unique identifier would serve the purpose, and one with no
>connotations would serve it better.
>
>But I agree with your main point, which is that the purpose of namespace
names
>is not to locate anything.
>
>Paul Abrahams
>

You're both lost in outer space.  The purpose of the VIN is because it help
you locate your stolen car.

Al 

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