[LSC] *** SPAM *** Re: LDraw File Spec - Initial public comments

[Travis Cobbs]

I'm going to add my feelings to William's, and annotate which is which.  I'd
suggest others do the same as I have.  (Copy and paste the below to avoid
adding layered quotes, and just add in your thoughts).  Note that my
agree/disagree remarks are relative to the original statement, not relative
to William's remarks.

Legend:
WH: William Howard
TC: Travis Cobbs

1) General
----------
a) Change "standard by which most create virtual LEGO(r) models" to "standard
by which most create LEGO(r) models on the computer"
WH: AGREE - needs changing
TC: NEUTRAL

b) Inconsistencies between line type 1 being called a "Sub-file reference"
and a "file reference"
WH: AGREE - Needs fixing
TC: AGREE

c) Details on the line type 1 search order
WH: DISAGREE - beyond the scope of the spec
TC: DISAGREE

d) File Type section needs dividing into Official and Unofficial
WH: AGREE - but the Official section needs moving to the Parts Library
Header spec
TC: NEUTRAL

e) Common verticies paragraph needs a diagram
WH: AGREE - Needs a diagram
TC: AGREE


2) Character encoding
---------------------
a) The character encoding of files should be specified
WH: DISAGREE - for reasons already discussed
TC: DISAGREE


3) Filenames
------------
a) Remove "The requirement for LDraw files to conform to the DOS
8.3filename convention has been removed."
WH: DISAGREE - Stating how a spec has changed is valid
TC: DISAGREE

b) The spec should not define what is permitted in an official filename (ie
part file), but this text should be moved to the library header spec
WH: AGREE
TC: AGREE

c) Prohibit spaces in filenames
WH: DISAGREE - as Travis says, spaces in filenames are here to stay
TC: DISAGREE

d) Filenames should be quoted
WH: DISAGREE - there is no parsing issue (unless you blindly use a
tokenizer)
TC: DISAGREE

e) Specific characters should be disallowed/allowed not discouraged
WH: DISAGREE - as with spaces, most characters are now valid in MS-Windows
files names, but we should flag the ones known to cause cross-platform
issues
TC: DISAGREE


4) Comment lines
----------------
a) Deprecate the form "0 <comment>"
WH: NO STRONG FEELINGS
TC: AGREE


5) Matrix operations
--------------------
a) Needs explicit examples
WH: AGREE - who gets to write them?
TC: DISAGREE - I think the below stuff I agree to is sufficient, but am open
to debate if we decide against what I agree on below.

b) Mention column/row major orientation
WH: DISAGREE - unless unavoidable
TC: DISAGREE

c) Don't mention column/row major orientation
WH: AGREE - if its possible
TC: AGREE

d) Give matrix example(s) and mathematical example
WH: AGREE
TC: AGREE

e) A more neutral way of displaying a matrix like simply: [a b c 0] [d e f
0] [g h i 0] [x y z 1]
WH: AGREE - if this is valid
TC: UNDECIDED (having this in addition to the stuff above might just add
confusion.)


6) Concave quads
----------------
a) Allow concave quads
WH: DISAGREE
TC: DISAGREE


7) Vertex winding
-----------------
a) Mandate CW or CCW
WH: DISAGREE
TC: DISAGREE


8) Axis orientation
-------------------
a) Explain the "handedness" of the axis
WH: AGREE
TC: AGREE

b) Explain that -y is up
WH: AGREE
TC: AGREE - (For these, a diagram would probably be useful.)


9) Meta commands
----------------
a) META commands can do a lot and it should be stated at the beginning.
WH: AGREE
TC: AGREE

b) "0 BFC CERTIFY CW" effects all following lines.
WH: AGREE
TC: AGREE

c) "Write/Print" should note that this is not allowed in official parts
files
WH: AGREE - but interesting to note that some want the spec to include parts
and some don't!
TC: DISAGREE - Should have one spot in spec where we link to "rules for
official parts" in separate document, and keep them out of spec entirely.

d) Move the meta-commands into their own document
WH: DISAGREE
TC: DISAGREE

e) Remove "!" from the official spec.
WH: DISAGREE - it's been ratified by the LSC so it's here to stay, may as
well be in the spec
TC: DISAGREE - Note: ! not added to all the official ones, and won't be
added to any more existing official ones.

f) Mandate "!" for official metas and strongly suggest it for unofficial
ones
WH: AGREE
TC: AGREE
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