Re: Extending VRML, politely
Donna Marie Calcote ([email protected])
Tue, 21 Feb 1995 20:48:45 -0600
>For example, part of the Inventor group at Silicon Graphics is busy
>working on VRML-related stuff. What problems will be caused if we
>produce a VRML browser capable of reading all Inventor nodes, and not
>just the VRML draft spec nodes?
>
this is good forethought. you are providing for potential developments.
>-- My thoughts: The problem is that authors might unknowingly produce
>VRML worlds that could only be read into Inventor-based browsers.
>That would be bad. Would a "VRMLLint" program that checked a VRML
>file for correctness and use of only official VRML nodes, plus an
>Inventor to VRML translator program be enough to alleviate the
>problem?
>
it would be a good start!
>
>I guess I'm looking for some concensus on the polite way of adding new
>features to the VRML spec. Something like:
>
>1. Implement as an experimental feature. Implement in such a way that
> users know that they are using an experimental feature
yes. let them know that it is experimental and that they use it at their own
risk.
>2. Propose to VRML mailing list. Discuss, debate, convince.
good.
>3. Others implement/use the new feature.
good
>4. New feature becomes part of the "official" VRML spec.
when the concensus is that the new feature is a valuable addition to the spec.
>
>I'm an implementor, and know that designs often change in the middle
>of implementation-- that's why I think it is OK to implement something
>before proposing it as a standard. The danger is that there will be
>several different, incompatible implementations of the same feature.
>I'm convinced that will happen anyway, since design differences are
>often resolved by implementing different alternatives and seeing which
>one works best in practice.
>
spot on!
any experienced software developer knows that features under development by
a group may have design differences to resolve, and if we get independent
input from a variety of sources with all bearing in mind that the 'final'
implementation will most likely be a compromise of the various contributions.
build in the features, but make them easily removeable.
>
donna
---
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