Re: [idn] I fear I cannot use IDN in the next 10 years

[Dave Crocker <dhc@dcrocker.net>]

At 11:45 PM 10/4/2001, Eric A. Hall wrote:
>My "base of experience" gives me an ability to follow current activities

It is "following" future events that is difficult.


> > The physics of upgrading a large, infrastructure-critical service
> > dictate a text-based encoding scheme.
>
>Debating this point requires more context. Certainly IP, BGP and many of
>the other "large, infrastructure-critical services" don't rely on
>text-based encodings. DNS itself is 8-bit clean

The topic is the DNS and, apparently, you did not fully appreciate the 
postscript I placed at the end of my previous message.


>What particular aspect of UTF-8 isn't "text-based" anyway?

There is a difference between "octet" and "text".  John K's recent note 
elaborated this point.


> > It simply has no effect on significant system performance issues, other
> > than transparency to the existing system... if an ACE is used.
>
>Transparency to users, admins and developers is also important.

See my previous comment about confusing user interface issues with protocol 
issues.


>Dan J. is not arguing for UTF-8 *ONLY*. That's a non-starter. The UDNS
>proposal allows for a dual-mode structure

When uDNS moves from proposal to specification, the real feasibility and 
tradeoffs associated with it can be debated.  Until then, it is closer to a 
Rorschach test than a basis for technical debate.

d/

----------
Dave Crocker  <mailto:dcrocker@brandenburg.com>
Brandenburg InternetWorking  <http://www.brandenburg.com>
tel +1.408.246.8253;  fax +1.408.273.6464