ietf-822
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Re: Regarding SMTP Message specification syntax ...

2003-10-01 11:37:03

Keith Moore <moore(_at_)cs(_dot_)utk(_dot_)edu> writes:

The notion that people should use X-* for experiments (be them
implementation experiments or specification experiments) is quite wide
spread.  Changing that notion, when there is an opportunity, seems
like a good thing.

It's perfectly fine to use X-* for experiments.  What's not fine is
expecting to widely deploy and/or standardize the protocol used in those
experiments without changing it.   If you want to widely deploy a field,
you need to formally define it, publish its definition, and probably
get some sort of community approval for use of that field.

I agree.

There's really no problem with X-* at all; the rules in 822 are clear.  

Then what is the problem including those rules in a revised document?
That is what I have been arguing for, if that wasn't clear.

If a revision of 2822 is moved to Draft Standard, and fully obsolete
822, I don't believe that what 822 says or not matters.  It would be
sufficient that the revised document acknowledge that X-* are not
discussed, if the perception is that nothing else can be agreed on.
Acting as if X-* never existed is not enlightening.

The problem is with people who think it's okay to widely deploy and/or
standardize half-baked ideas without  doing either analysis or review of
those ideas.  Changing how X-* is used won't address that problem.

Ignoring X-* won't address the problem either.

Thanks,
Simon


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