[SCL] Issues

[pat hayes]

Let me suggest that we organize our discussions around an 'issues 
list' . This device is used by the W3C working groups and it has 
proven extremely useful.  To get an idea of how it works, take a look 
at the RDF and OWL websites.  Basically, the WG's work consists in 
taking the open issues more or less one at a time, doing something 
about them or coming to a relevant decision, and then closing the 
issue. This keeps us from going in circles and helps make sure we 
don't forget anything. Issues can be large (Issue: SCL needs a 
first-order model theory compatible with RDF) or small (Issue: SCL 
should be sendable over email)., and they can be technical or 
procedural. Building an issues list is a bit like brainstorming. We 
ought to try to think of everything that needs to be done and list it 
all. We can always toss out an issue as irrelevant later; but 
*adding* issues later is something that ought to be done only as a 
last resort. I suggest that we give ourselves until, say, mid-January 
to collect issues and then close the issues list and get down to 
serious business.

Until we get a website set up for this purpose, we can use email. 
Please, therefore, send proposed issues to the list, with "ISSUE:..." 
in the subject line.

As an example: Tanel's recent messages seem to me to raise at least 
two issues, which might be phrased as follows:

1. Issue (T. Tammet) : SCL needs a way to attach comments to 
expressions which are logically transparent but can be used to attach 
extra-logical information.

2. Issue (T. Tammet): SCL needs an explicit XML syntax. Choosing an 
XML syntax style may have consequences for the rest of the language.

I'll be sending some more issues over the next few days, and I 
encourage everyone to send as many as they can think of. Bear in mind 
that if a topic isn't an issue, then the chair is liable to rule 
discussion of it out of order; so if you have an axe to grind, make 
an issue out of it :-).

Pat

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