Re: [xri] Issue 1: Clarifying * Semantics

[Fen Labalme <fen@idcommons.org>]

Loren -

While you are correct that it's all SMOP (a Small Matter of Programming) and 
the differences we're talking about are somewhat minimal in regards to the 
complexity of the parser, the one less rule makes it quite a bit easier for 
the programmer *writing* the parser to understand things, and thus decreases 
effort and mistakes.

It also makes it more likely that a human who happens to see a (HFI-based) XRI 
string has a chance to understand what it means.

This is important in the world of Identity Commons where we expect users to 
see XRIs and, just like URLs, have some sort of grasp as to what they convey.

Fen


Loren West wrote:
> I can easily say the parsing rules are equally simple, because as
> someone who knows the complexity of writing a parser, I know
> that the hard part isn't in the differences we're talking about
> on this thread.
> 
> =Loren