Jan Hidders wrote:
This also brings me to another issue. Shouldn't there be a definitive thourgh formal description of the syntax of the mark-up language (in for example BNF) and its semantics?
Yes, there "should" be! If there's any support I can lend to a working group that would seek to do such a thing, just let me know.
Has this not been done because nobody has yet taken the trouble (or the responsibility), or is there another reason?
No, that's the reason. :-)
By the way, if I sound critical, I didn't mean to. I think the step to a database-based Wikipedia is a step of major importance and I am amazed at the amount of time and effort that you guys have spent on this. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You're welcome, and the kind comments are most appreciated.
I've been grumpy with a few people over the past few days, because I think some people prefer only to complain rather than to _do_. One person went so far as to suggest that my praise of Magnus was somehow meant to be _ironic_! :-) It wasn't. Magnus lives on the other side of the world, and I get bugfix patches from him at midnight or later, his time. That's astounding.
I like it when people contribute ideas, too! So it is not good of me to be grumpy when people suggest ideas. But I *love* it when people get involved with the code, for example Brion Vibber.
--Jimbo