Re: comments on version 2 of protocol draft

[Bobby Krupczak <rdk@krupczak.org>]

Hi!

> Defaults are good things.  Which is clearer and easier to understand?

Defaults are good.  However, remembering them all is difficult.

> <rpc>
>    <go-home>
>       <drive-path>automatic</drive-path>
>       <car>white</car>
>       <parking-spot>first-level</parking-spot>
>       <gear>drive</gear>
>       <overdrive>enabled</overdrive>
>       <windshield-wipers>as-needed</windshield-wipers>
>       <rear-defogger>as-needed</rear-defogger>
>       <front-defogger>as-needed-after-engine-warms-up</front-defogger>
>       <emergency>pregnant-wife</emergency>
>       <stopping-style>standard-abrupt</stopping-style>
>       <police-mode>obey-traffic-signs</police-mode>
>       <no-police-mode>bat-out-of-hell</no-police-mode>
>       <fishtail-threshold>0</fishtail-threshold>
>       <gasoline-allowance>unlimited</gasoline-allowance>
>       <avoid-excessive-tire-wear>false</avoid-excessive-tire-wear>
>       <brake-for-turtles>false</brake-for-turtles>
>       <brake-for-dolphins>true</brake-for-dolphins>
>     </go-home>
> </rpc>
> 
> or:
> 
> <rpc>
>    <go-home>
>       <emergency>pregnant-wife</emergency>
>     </go-home>
> </rpc>

In terms of the above, if I were decoding and troubleshooting, then
the first is absolutely the most clear and informative.  I believe
that was my original argument.  Clear and informative does not
necessarily map to concise.  Nor is the opposite necessarily true
either.

Your example is effective but it is exaggerated.  I do not recall
anything in the spec with such voluminous defaults.

> Spelling out defaults is a bad thing as software ages (is it an
> error if you give a fishtail-threshold for a Segway that doesn't
> support fishtailing?).  Also when defaults are calculated or derived
> (since no-police-mode is really derived from the value of emergency).

Obviously we would not spell out non-existent defaults -- thats what
the specification is for.

In terms of specifications, did you notice that all the defaults were
specified in English.  English is terrible for computers to understand
and process.

At this point, I think we have beaten a dead horse even deader.  Its
probably something for the working group to decide on and then we can
move on to issues like creations as side-effects!!!

Bobby

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