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[The Generic DID Scheme] The language in this section contradicts the previous language in the Terminology section #131

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mwherman2000 opened this issue Dec 21, 2018 · 6 comments
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clarify There is consensus, but the spec needs clarifying

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@mwherman2000
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mwherman2000 commented Dec 21, 2018

In https://w3c-ccg.github.io/did-spec/#the-generic-did-scheme, the language in this section (see below) contradicts the language in the terminology section with respect to DID Fragments, etc. This is super confuding.

The generic DID scheme is a URI scheme conformant with [RFC3986]. It consists of a DID followed by an optional path and/or fragment. The term DID refers only to the identifier conforming to the did rule in the ABNF below; when used alone, it does not include a path or fragment. A DID that may optionally include a path and/or fragment is called a DID reference.
Following is the ABNF definition using the syntax in [RFC5234] (which defines ALPHA as upper or lowercase A-Z).
did-reference = did [ "/" did-path ] [ "#" did-fragment ]

In section https://w3c-ccg.github.io/did-spec/#terminology, it states..

DID Fragment
The portion of a DID reference that follows the first hash sign character ("#"). A DID fragment uses the same syntax as a URI fragment. See section 5.5. Note that a DID fragment MUST immediately follow a DID. If a DID reference includes a DID path followed by a fragment, that fragment is NOT a DID fragment.
DID Path
The portion of a DID reference that follows the first forward slash character. A DID path uses the identical syntax as a URI path. See section 5.4. Note that if a DID path is followed by a fragment, that fragment is NOT a DID fragment.
DID Reference
A DID plus an optional DID path or DID fragment.

The language in these sections contradict each other - especially the phrase:

A DID that may optionally include a path and/or fragment is called a DID reference.

@mwherman2000 mwherman2000 changed the title [The Generic DID Scheme] The language in the section contracts the previous language in the Terminology section [The Generic DID Scheme] The language in this section contracts the previous language in the Terminology section Dec 21, 2018
@mwherman2000
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Misuse of "DID" ...see #121 (comment)

Reference: Hyperledger Indy/Sovrin Comprehensive Architecture Reference Model (INDY ARM) - latest version - bullets (12) thru (16) in both the diagram, Narration, and principles.

@jandrieu
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jandrieu commented Jan 17, 2019

Agreed. This whole section appears to be inconsistent.

I would argue the problem is that the ABNF is wrong as is the language describing it. IMO, the entire string is the DID, just as the entire string is the URL (the "URL" is not a subset of the string, it is the string entire, which is comprised of parts).

For example, URLs are defined as

       <scheme>:<scheme-specific-part>

in RFC 1738

https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1738.txt

To state the DID is just the first part is confusing and misleading.

We should discuss this on the weekly CCG call.

@mwherman2000 mwherman2000 changed the title [The Generic DID Scheme] The language in this section contracts the previous language in the Terminology section [The Generic DID Scheme] The language in this section contradicts the previous language in the Terminology section Jan 18, 2019
@mwherman2000
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mwherman2000 commented Jan 18, 2019

The id (DID) attribute of a DID Document/DID Entity is actually a URN ...a subclass of URI ...and specifically not a URL. URL is a centralized concept.

Reference: #155

@jandrieu
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jandrieu commented Jan 18, 2019

Incorrect. A URL is a URI that resolves to a resource. DIDs resolve to DID Documents. And this DID Entity thing you mention is apparently a construct of your work. It's not a thing in the the W3C work.

@rhiaro rhiaro added the clarify There is consensus, but the spec needs clarifying label Jan 25, 2019
@mwherman2000 mwherman2000 mentioned this issue Jan 30, 2019
@dmitrizagidulin
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Addressed in PR #168.

@rhiaro
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rhiaro commented Aug 16, 2019

The sections mentioned have been completely rewritten, and "DID Reference" is no longer a concept in the spec. I think that is sufficient to close this issue.

@rhiaro rhiaro closed this as completed Aug 16, 2019
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