Re: [xsl] second implementation of XSLT 2.0?

[Jim Melton <jim.melton@xxxxxxx>]

At 11/23/2005 07:29 AM, Elliotte Harold wrote:

> ...
>
> The W3C has never been the best organization for test suites and 
> interoperability. For instance they do not require even one complete 
> implementation before advancing to REC, only that each feature be 
> independently implemented. It is possible for a W3C spec to be actively 
> self-contradictory as long as different implementations implement 
> different internally consistent subsets.

Not so.  It's dangerous to make broad generalizations, particularly when 
the maker is not part of the environment about which the generalizations 
are being made.

"They" are not a uniform, homogenous mass.  "They" are instead a diverse 
bunch of Working Groups, each of which has to follow the W3C guidelines and 
directives (the Process Document), but that have flexibility that enables 
them to develop more stringent criteria than the Process Document requires.

For example, the XML Query WG has developed, not only a pretty 
comprehensive test suite, but requirements for exiting the Candidate 
Recommendation stage that include "at least two implementations of each 
individual feature", but also "at least two distinct implementations" of 
Minimal XQuery (which, despite the name, is the entire suite of 
specifications except for the seven optional features), "at least one of 
which uses the XQuery human-readable syntax defined in this specification, 
and at least one of which uses the XQueryX XML syntax defined in 
[XQueryX]".  (You can read this for yourselves in the CR document of 
XQuery, located at http://www.w3.org/TR/xquery/#status.)

So, your assertion has been disproven by providing a single contrary 
example.  Gratuitous criticisms are unwarranted, especially when untrue.

Hope this helps,
   Jim

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Jim Melton --- Editor of ISO/IEC 9075-* (SQL)     Phone: +1.801.942.0144
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