In an email to XML-DEV, Peter Murray-Rust expressed
disappointment with OASIS, who have hosted the mailing
list
since early this year, and opened up discussion on the way
forward for the group -- with, or without, OASIS.
Murray-Rust, the founder of XML-DEV and longtime XML
stalwart, said that he was:
"... very heartened by the number of constructive
suggestions
and, whatever happens, we need to take a more
expansive view of the future."
After summarizing concerns expressed by some "seriously
unhappy" members of the XML-DEV community, Murray-Rust did
however
think that "formal" action should only be taken after
OASIS's self-imposed deadline of 23rd April (OASIS's
Executive Director Laura Walker has
pledged improvements within that time period).
Murray-Rust suggested that the community "think
positively" about:
What role can and should OASIS
play?
What additional features should XML-DEV
include?
Are there affordable technical solutions which are
preferable to the current one?
He then went on to explain why his opinion of OASIS had
changed, praising the NIST/OASIS XML conformance work, and
also that of Robin Cover. However:
"I regret to say that I think it is
more bureaucratic and less oriented towards individuals.
Personally I feel
a sense of exclusion - it is unrealistic to expect academics
to pay USD250
to join an organisation to which they provide voluntary
services. I had
hoped to see OASIS have a central role in which individuals
can feel welcome."
Even if OASIS are able to respond to the concerns of
XML-DEV
and of Murray-Rust -- which are more about the "apparent
unconcern
from OASIS members" than the technical difficulties -- to
the satisfaction of the community, it looks certain that
XML-DEV will be embarking upon a new phase of its
existence.
David
Brownell has already proposed a way forward for an
enhanced XML-DEV, incorporating a community-managed CVS code
repository and other facilities.
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