[gcs-pcs-list] on using URIs

[Young,Jeff (OR)]

I'm not saying unAPI isn't worthwhile. I'm saying that unAPI should be
implemented as a profile of OpenURL. Everyone is so convinced OpenURL is
incomprehensible that their brains shut down immediately. I'm claiming
that converting the existing unAPI protocol to be OpenURL 1.0 compliant
is utterly trivial. Here's what it would take:

1) Add "url_ver= Z39.88-2004" in the "microformat" span
2) rename "uri" to "rft_id" in the span
3) Change the resolver so it doesn't blow up when it sees the url_ver
parameter
4) Change the resolver to look for "rft_id" in place of "uri"

You are now 100% OpenURL 1.0 compliant.

Jeff

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Daniel Chudnov [mailto:daniel.chudnov at yale.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 1:20 PM
> To: Young,Jeff (OR)
> Cc: GCS-PCS list
> Subject: Re: [gcs-pcs-list] on using URIs
> 
> On Mar 1, 2006, at 12:56 PM, Young,Jeff (OR) wrote:
> >
> >> Lots of complexity averted for end-user/developers.  I'm just
saying.
> >
> > I'm not convinced that this:
> >
> > url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1126%2Fscience.
> > 275.5304.1320
> >
> > is significantly more difficult to process than this:
> >
> > uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1126%2Fscience.275.5304.1320
> 
> The difference is that you already understand OpenURL.  99.96% of the
> rest of the developer world doesn't. :)
> 
> But still:  are you saying, therefore, that unAPI itself is not
> worthwhile?  It's good for you to share this opinion here, but it
> isn't clear to me what you mean by it.
> 
> And not to beat a dead horse further, but...
> 
> There's no problem with layering unAPI implementations over OpenURL
> implementations.  That it was fairly easy for you to accomplish is a
> good thing, and is a positive result indicating that the spec's
> heading in the right direction.  Indeed, this kind of outcome is a
> stated goal of the spec, and you were first to demonstrate this!
> 
> There's a problem with asking the world to implement OpenURL 1.0:
> it'll never happen.
> 
> That the chances of the world implementing unAPI are only slightly
> better doesn't keep me up all night anymore.  Just a lengthy part of
> the night. :)
> 
>    -Dan