three or four spinoff discussions

During today’s DITA TC call as we were reviewing the
TOC for DITA 1.2 documentation, we came up with three or four spin off
discussion items:

 

1.      
Is the approach outlined in the proposed DITA 1.2
documentation TOC a good approach?

The proposed TOC is available
here:  http://wiki.oasis-open.org/dita/Draft_1.2_TOC

The assumption is that we are on the
right track, but please speak up if you disagree or if you have other
suggestions. 

There probably won’t bee too
much more discussion of this topic unless someone speaks up.

 

2.      
Is the scope of DITA 1.2 as it is shaping up too
large? Is the DITA specification becoming too complex?

Looking at the
proposed additions to the DITA 1.2 documentation TOC is one way to get a feel
for the number and size of the additions. One thought is that if most of the
additions are outside of the core specification, that that is a good sign, and
if there are a lot of additions or exceptions being made to the core
specification, that that is a bad sign. Each person will have their own idea of
how much is too much, but there is a concern on some people’s part that
the DITA standard is already fairly complex and with the proposed DITA 1.2
additions it is getting more complex.

 

3.      
What does it mean when we say that an implementation
supports the DITA standard? Is the entire standard required or are some parts
optional?

Michael sent out a note that
outlines his thinking on this with the subject “Specialization support: a
core philosophical issue”. 

See:  http://www.oasis-open.org/archives/dita/200710/msg00002.html

 

4.      
How much flexibility do specializers have to make
exceptions to behaviors that are outlined in the DITA standard?

This is a spin off from issue 12055,
but it is also related to item #3 above.  I’ll send out another
message later today or tomorrow to outline the issue.

 

I think it would be reasonable for discussion of these items
to continue via e-mail to the DITA TC list.

 

I expect that Don will put items 2, 3, and 4 on the agenda
for the weekly DITA TC calls as time permits.

 

    -Jeff