Re: Potential new issue: PSVI considered harmful

I suspect this issue contains at least two architectural sub-issues, both 
important, which may be addressed separately.

At 11:13 AM 6/12/2002 -0700, Tim Bray wrote:
> So I recommend a TAG finding along the following lines:
>
> 1. Type-augmented XML is a good thing and a recommendation should be 
> prepared describing it both at the infoset and syntax level. (I gather 
> there is already some work along these lines in XML Schema?).  Serious 
> consideration should be given to 80/20 points rather than simply re-using 
> the plethora of primitive types from XML Schema.

The more I think about this, the less I like.  To rephrase this finding as 
a question, I'd ask:

Does statically-typed information have a role in Web architecture?

I don't believe it does, but I'm sure others will disagree.

> 2. Type-augmented XML has nothing to say about default values created in 
> any schema.

Again, I'd ask:

Should Web architecture reply on explicit values provided directly in 
messages, or rely on outside mechanisms which provide defaults?

I'd much prefer the explicit version, but it's hard to argue against 
defaults after years of HTML practice.

These both seem like questions whose implications for Web Architecture are 
well-worth discussing separately from the (malign|beneficial) influence of 
W3C XML Schema.

Simon St.Laurent
"Every day in every way I'm getting better and better." - Emile Coue