Revision information for HTML documents

Ben Combee (combee@sso-austin.sps.mot.com)
Mon, 18 Dec 1995 09:58:52 -0600 (CST)

I've been reading some of the recent threads about revision information
in HTML documents, and while I agree with the sentiments that having
this kind of information is important, I disagree with the idea that <INS>
and <DEL> or a similar CLASS based mechanism are needed in HTML.

Rather than extend HTML again (I'm a bit of a minimalist here), why not
expand the valid content types for WWW browsers/tools to include something
like application/x-rcs. Reasons for this:

* The file format exists and is well documented.
* A large code base exists for handling these files.
* RCS, being outside of SGML, can handle changes without funny DTD tricks.
* This easily handles lots of levels of changes, not just the one level
that a simple <INS>/<DEL> or CLASS="added"/"deleted" would have
* A browser that could graphically show RCS changes would be a killer app
for revision control enthusiasts.

What do you think?

-- 
Ben Combee, CAD Software Engineer, small language enthusiast, HTML dude
Motorola, Paging Products Group, Strategic Semiconductor Operation--Austin
E-mail: combee@sso-austin.sps.mot.com   Phone: (512) 891-7141