xml-dev - Re: Begging the Question (the novel)

[Paul Tchistopolskii <paul@qub.com>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Sean B. Palmer <sean@mysterylights.com>

> > "To dereference or not dereference: (it just) doesn't matter"
> > is ... ahem ... strange statement.
> 
> I take no responsibility for the "(it just)" part [Lisa added that] :-)
> 
> Seriously though, how can it be a strange statement? Either something has a
> namespace that is just a name (like the ns spec. sets out), or it has one
> that is deferenencable for whatever purpose (as allowed by the ns spec.) -
> it doesn't matter which one as long as it is the one that meets your
> particular software's specific needs. If it is RDF, then it might want to
> dereference it. If it's XHTML, it won't. If it's XML Schema, it might do,
> and so on...
 
> I don't see the problem anymore...

I'l show you. ( In fact it has been described already 
at the beginning of the thread. Sorry, but that's true. )

> > Namespaces shouldn't be dereferenced until theere is a
> > clear understanding  *how* should they be dereferenced.

> In a system x1, dereference the namespace accoroding to the specification
> x2. In an RDF system, dereference the ns and parse it as an RDF Schema. How
> is that not clear?

I have a 

<Description xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"/>

It is a URL. There is a webserver running on another end.
The webserver receives a request for  

http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#

What the webserver should return ?  RDF ? Schema ?

You're saying that : 

when this request comes from 'RDF-based system', 
server should return RDF

when the same request comes from "XSD-based system',
sever should return XSD

This requires "X-accept:" e t.c. stuff. 

I'l tell you one thing. "X-accept:" will not work. It does not work already and 
nobody cares. Those who've wrote at least one HTTP webserver in their life
should understand what I'm talking about. Those who have not wrote the 
HTTP webserver, should read the HTTP specifications and then 
ask me a particular question if  something in my statement is not clear.

Now what is your point? Build on  "X-accept:" ?

Rgds.Paul.

PS. 

I should tell that I don't like the style you're quoting my letters. 
Not a big deal, but there could be an impression that I'm sometimes 
making incorrect statements. ( This is not good. As we all should 
know - I'm always right and when I'm not - I confess it on the list ;-)

Really - nothing personal, please, I just don't want to look wrong 
for repeating your words.  Could you please quote a bit more 
accurate ?
 
I'm talking about :

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Paul Tchistopolskii <paul@qub.com>
To: Sean B. Palmer <sean@mysterylights.com>; <xml-dev@lists.xml.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2000 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: Begging the Question


> BTW, Paul: You cannot say that namespaces shouldn't be dereferenced: that
> would make RDF useless overnight. 

Is it really possible to make RDF useless with just changing 
the meaning of namespace URI ( currently that URI has 
no meaning at all ;-) ?

If yes - you should see how *huge* is the power of this URI. 
It can make RDF useless overnight. 

You said that -  not me. ;-)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Sean B. Palmer <sean@mysterylights.com>
To: Paul Tchistopolskii <paul@qub.com>; <xml-dev@lists.xml.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2000 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: Begging the Question


> If yes - you should see how *huge* is the power of this URI.
> It can make RDF useless overnight.

Nah, because it wouldn't change. No-one is going to forbid anyone from
dereferencing a namespace (just as it is unwise to make it mandatory).