Re: Accepting invalid input [was RSS 1.1]

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 11:16:07 -0000, Jon Hanna <jon-YK+g4hZFQDMeIZ0/[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> I think it is reasonable to report an error and then, as part of that error,
> an attempt to work around that error. I think this holds even in the case of
> ill-formed XML (the spec says you must report an error, not how that error
> must be reported).

In that specific case of ill-formed XML I believe the spec'd behaviour
is for the parser to stop dead in its tracks. XML isn't robust in the
Postel sense, though an app using it may be. But I've been through the
mill a lot of times on this on the Atom list, mostly arguing from the
more Draconian point of view. At this stage in the game, I can't see
any developer of existing (popular aggregator) tools making their
input section respond by rejecting the data altogether. If the spec
says it's a no-no, I reckon it'll be widely ignored, if the spec says
it's ok, new developers will be as liberal as the old. So as a
realistic compromise I suppose a very clear error message SHOULD be
given (maybe with the opportunity to manually notify etc etc), or the
app MAY just ditch the stuff altogether.

Cheers,
Danny.

-- 

http://dannyayers.com


 
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