It has been suggested many times to build a database (list, document, XML, ...) where each designated/assigned code point and each character gets its "story": Comments on the glyphs, from what codepage it was inherited, usage comments and examples, alternate names, etc.
I am talking about both code points and "characters" on purpose, and I would go a step beyond documenting what's there. All the "characters" that can be represented by a sequence of assigned Unicode characters should be listed, with that sequence (or those sequences), and with further explanation if necessary.
And further yet, for new proposals, the proposed characters should be entered into the database and tracked there with their intermediate and eventual status - rejected; representable by <a b c>; assigned at U+uvwxy. Proposed properties could be tracked, too.
Now we just need to
- find someone to sponsor this effort technically and with humanpower
- squeeze the existing information out of the standard, the mailing lists, FAQs, and of course out of the Unicode veterans before they retire by Unicode 6...
markus
PS: Sorry, I am not in a position to volunteer...
Frank da Cruz wrote: > ISO and the Unicode Consortium are to be commended for documenting > character sets not only by showing a picture of each character, but also > giving it a name. > > The next step is to write a little story about each character: history, > etymology, applications, specs, anecdotes, controversies, ... For some > characters, this could be a book in itself. > > - Frank
-- Opinions expressed here may not reflect my company's positions unless otherwise noted.
