[wiki-standards] Time for a real wiki standard - suggested aims - comments?

[Mike Haseler]

phil jones wrote:
> Actually, reading this I'm wondering if you're not really looking for
> something more like LaTeX. Or even SGML?
> 

Phil,

Latex is an english language markup which looks indecipherable to me and 
is as far from the idea of 'kirk' (I've got to call it something) as you 
can get.

If wikis and messageboards like PHPBB could simply agree on **Boldly** 
(or whatever other markup is agreed), it would be a start.

Then, whatever else, if you could see a mark <kirk> on the page, you 
know you can enter **boldly** without fear of finding the text upside 
down, or disappearing down a plug-hole, or whatever other absurd notion 
the application designer dreamed up over the custard and tomato 
sandwiches they must all eat.

Mike


> On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 8:19 AM, Mike Haseler <mike at lenzie.org.uk> wrote:
>> =Preamble=
>>
>> The current and literally primary goal of creole is to be "collision free".
>> As such it is not only unachievable, (all wikis collide with simple text
>> entry where every character is its own) but by trying to satisfy everyone it
>> cannot set rigorous standards for fear of collision, so it fails to achieve
>> the clarity required of a standard which can be used where it is necessary
>> to be draconian and say whether any particular text entry is or is not
>> "compatible".
>>
>> The following is my proposed amended goals for creole, which on reflection
>> is unlikely to go anywhere given the clear goal of "being nice to everyone"
>> inherent in the present creole project.
>>
>> =Aims and Objectives of 'Kirk'=
>>
>> (including my own 'nice-to-haves' which I will leave in, so that everyone
>> can criticise something)
>>
>> ==Audience==
>>
>> This specification is intended to be read by those developing applications
>> using markup to format text.
>>
>> ==General Aims==
>>
>> The aim of 'kirk' is to mark up text so as to differentiate between
>> sections, ascribing additional properties such as emphasis or marking as a
>> heading to allow the application to convey this information through its own
>> choice of formatting.
>>
>> More specifically:
>>
>> 1. to specify generic relative text formatting for free-flowing text
>> providing the common elements used for headings, emphasis and notes, (i.e.
>> leaving the actual choice of font, actual, rather than relative, size,
>> position on page margins,etc. to the implementation)
>>
>> 2. to create a markup specification use able across a range of applications
>>
>> 3. to create a markup usable across the range of different languages without
>> a requirement to know English
>>
>> 4. to develop a logical and consistent syntax which is both intuitive and
>> practical
>>
>> 5. to allow simple inline links: intra-page, intra-application and internet
>>
>> 6. to allow simple inline inclusion of images
>>
>> 7. to specify the bare minimum text layout formatting allowing paragraphs,
>> newlines, lists, indents, and tables
>>
>> 8. to include provision for common text formatting including, levels of
>> headings, codeblocks, horizontal lines, quotations, references and
>> signatures
>>
>> 9. to specify the mechanism for application specific extensions
>>
>> ==Kirk Environment==
>>
>> Kirk describes the manner of display rather than the output to display. It
>> takes raw text and describes how this will affect the characters shown to
>> the user. In a typical environment such as the internet, the application
>> will need to translate some characters to avoid conflict with e.g. HTML.
>> Whilst kirk is intended to work with HTML, the specification does not cover
>> how creole will be translated for any particular use.
>>
>>
>> Mike
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