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Naming of optional message header fields

2005-08-25 02:34:40

I am designing a message verification system, broadly similar in concept to Domain Keys, in that sending equipment adds headers to the RFC2822 message, and automated recipient systems extract, parse and interpret these headers.

The scheme is intended be offered for standardisation via RFCs, and the main code will be made available under Open Source conditions.

During my private engineering trials, I am using an X- prefix for the headers I add.

It would make engineering sense to use production header names (without an X- prefix) as soon as I release code to other people for multi-party trials.

I note that:

1) RFC 2822 Sect. 3.6.8 states simply that optional fields MUST NOT have have the same names as those defined elsewhere in that RFC.

2) Domain Keys are using headers of the form "DomainKey-function" (example below)


I conclude that it would be acceptable for me to use header names of the form:
"SchemeName-function".

Any disagreements?

Chris Haynes


-------------------------
Sample Domain Keys header from a recent message (specifics hidden):

DomainKey-Signature:  a=rsa-sha1; s=***; d=***; c=nofws; q=dns;
  h=received:message-id:date:from:to:subject:in-reply-to:
  references:x-mailer;
  b=KkVbW***








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