Logs, email, and configuration data (client & server) should be saved in
plain text, using a platform-independent character set. Rationale: This
makes sure that all data can be read and edited with text-only tools on
all platforms.
Also, the format of each of these data types should be strictly defined.
Rationale: Transfer of data from one system to another would be easy,
giving users and administrators more freedom to choose the system they
like best, without having to reconfigure a lot to make the new system
look and work like the old. Also, sharing of log / configuration data
would not have to be accompanied by an explanation of which format has
been used.
Of course, then there also is the goal that all the formats should be
extensible, to accommodate for the systems of tomorrow.