Hi William.
Welcome back. Thanks for your comments.
On 05/18/09 04:22, William Schumann wrote:
> Jack,
> I'm writing to offer some suggestions on XML parsing in response to
> your meeting minutes.
> Associated data:
> XML allows information to be associated, but there is no interface for
> the XML parser to return information in an associated way. For
> example, in a AI manifest that has more than one slice action, all
> parameters associated with a particular action should be returned in a
> single call.
Yes. The issue is that there isn't an easy way of associating a group
of child element values (the parameters under a slice action) under a
single parent (the action itself), and I plan on rectifying that by
augmenting the API as part of the rework. This falls under problem
statement 1 which talks of "functionality for data retrieval and search"
> (Some of you are aware that ai_manifest.defval.xml is inappropriately
> used to compensate for this.) The installer makes extensive use of
> name-value pair lists using libnvpair(3lib) for C. Python and other
> languages have the notions of associative arrays and data objects, and
> the parser should be able to return associated data in support of any
> languages that will use the XML parser.
>
> Sematic validation:
> This could be done in a separate library so that it can be used by AI
> both on the client and on the AI server. The semantics will be
> identical on both.
Please elaborate. What would go into this library?
Thanks,
Jack
>
> William
> Jack Schwartz wrote:
>> HI everyone.
>>
>> Minutes of this meeting are posted at:
>> http://www.opensolaris.org/os/project/caiman/auto_install/AI_mtg/Minutes/XML_parser_rework_minutes_090515.txt
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jack
>>
>> Jack Schwartz wrote:
>>> Hi everyone.
>>>
>>> I'm calling a meeting for tomorrow to discuss XML parsing redesign.
>>> Now that we have the problem statements worked out, I'd like to
>>> discuss and get group buy in on concepts from which a strawman
>>> design proposal can be drawn.
>>>
>>> Friday 10/15, 12:30 PST, 13:30 MT, 15:30 ET
>>> Toll Free Dial In Number: (866)545-5227
>>> Int'l Access/Caller Paid Dial In Number: (215)446-3648
>>> ACCESS CODE: 7385082
>>>
>>> We have tons to cover, so the meeting may go for two hours.
>>>
>>> Agenda:
>>>
>>> Problem statement 2: Current AI manifests are not easy to use:
>>>
>>> To discuss:
>>> - Role of SMF enhanced profiles vs XML in specification
>>> - Split input between them? (if yes, then how?) Use one or the
>>> other?
>>> - need to consider clarity of the files, consistency with other
>>> utilities, other things?
>>> - How derived profiles can be leveraged
>>>
>>> Problem statement 3: AI manifests need to be forward and backward
>>> compatible between builds.
>>> - Manifests of different versions than the automated installer must
>>> work whenever possible.
>>> - A given version of the automated installer must be able to
>>> recognize
>>> a manifest with which it is not compatible and gracefully fail.
>>>
>>> To discuss:
>>> - How to do versioning between schema and manifest
>>> - How to handle version mismatches between schema and manifest
>>>
>>> Problem statement 4: Semantic validation is needed for AI.
>>> - Lack of it means failures further down the installation process
>>> instead of up front, or misconfiguration.
>>>
>>> To discuss:
>>> - Options for semantic validation.
>>>
>>> Problem statement 5: AI manifests have validation holes.
>>> - Example: criteria schema doesn't bind a min/max pair of ipv4
>>> address
>>> patterns to an ipv4 address criterion.
>>>
>>> To discuss:
>>> - What are the holes
>>> - What to do about them
>>>
>>> Problem statement 1: AI's multiple parsers present unneeded
>>> complexity and unmaintainability.
>>> - Things to consider for a single parser:
>>> - functionality for data retrieval and search, schema
>>> compatibility,
>>> how supported / maintainable is the parser
>>>
>>> To discuss:
>>> - Parser options, advantages and disadvantages.
>>> - In light of the other preceding discussions, hopefully a parser to
>>> choose will be apparent.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Jack
>>>
>>
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