RE: [xml-dev] 80:20

As I said, it is the ultimate testament.

A long list of problems came with 
the achievements, some of them, apparently, 
unsolvable now that the cement is hard. 
The cost of the webAsDesigned is what one is willing 
to risk on prototype specifications that 
have to interact with other prototype 
specifications.  Not a problem; just a risk 
to be managed by all means available 
including ignoring them by using the 
webAsBuilt.

One doesn't have to wait for a flawless 
candidate, but it's a good idea to 
date up.  Otherwise, one marries a broken hack.

len


From: David Megginson [mailto:]

Bullard, Claude L (Len) wrote:

> The web is a collection of working broken hacks. That's the ultimate
> testament for 80/20 designs.

I know, as a technical specialist, that the Web is messy behind the scenes,
but I can still use it to read film reviews, keep up to date with news
stories, buy books, check weather, reserve hotel rooms, file flight plans
(in the U.S., anyway), download software, and so on.

I haven't heard of anyone doing things like that with Xanadu or HyTime-based
systems, much less XML+XLink: that's the ultimate testament for 99:1 or
100:0 designs.

> Creating a standard is like pouring cement; get it right before it
> hardens.

No, it's like dating -- if you hold out for a woman or man with no flaws,
you end up living and dying alone.