From 27dd2810d48c7a08f6b82632d26d9f6f00f5cb6b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "http://kerravonsen.dreamwidth.org/" Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 04:29:10 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] request for comment --- ...n_alternative_approach_to_structured_data.mdwn | 15 +++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 15 insertions(+) create mode 100644 doc/forum/an_alternative_approach_to_structured_data.mdwn diff --git a/doc/forum/an_alternative_approach_to_structured_data.mdwn b/doc/forum/an_alternative_approach_to_structured_data.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 000000000..8898c90da --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/forum/an_alternative_approach_to_structured_data.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +Looking at the discussion about [[todo/structured_page_data]], it looks a bit like folks are bogged down in figuring out what *markup* to use for structured page data, something I doubt that people will really agree on. And thus, little progress is made. + +I propose that, rather than worry about what the data looks like, that we take a similar approach +to the way Revision Control Systems are used in ikiwiki: a front-end + back-end approach. +The front-end would be a common interface, where queries are made about the structured data, +and there would be any number of back-ends, which could use whatever markup or format that they desired. + +To that purpose, I've written the [[plugins/contrib/field]] plugin for a possible front-end. +I called it "field" because each page could be considered a "record" where one could request the values of "fields" of that record. +The idea is that back-end plugins would register functions which can be called when the value of a field is desired. + +This is gone into in more depth on the plugin page itself, but I would appreciate feedback and improvements on the approach. +I think it could be really powerful and useful, especially if it becomes part of ikiwiki proper. + +--[[KathrynAndersen]]