resuming progress on TAP

[Keith Noddle]

Hi Arnold,

Thank you for your comments. I believe you describe a valid and 
desirable way forward, but whether we do that remains to be seen.

The reception your post received and your reaction to it are most 
interesting. The subtext is clear: "We brook no dissent". I beg to differ.

Anyone and everyone has the right and indeed is encouraged to post their 
comments or suggestions to the mailing list. They have the right to 
expect their posts to be considered and debated, however briefly. If it 
transpires the post doesn't directly help, they further have the right 
to be let down gently, because no genuine input can ever wholly be 
without merit. To do otherwise stifles debate and that cannot and must 
not be allowed.

However strongly we hold our opinions and preferences, this must always 
be a debate amongst friends. We can rail as much as we like about the 
subject in hand, but surely we all share common goals and aspirations 
for the Virtual Observatory? After vigorous debate we should be able to 
share a beer and joke. If this is not the case, what then the future of 
the VO in general and the IVOA in particular?

Keith.

---

> From a relative outsider who has been watching this for a while:
> 
> If I think about TAP from an implementation point of view and
> consider that AQ support is mandatory, PQ support optional,
> I would be inclined to first implement the AQ protocol and then
> add the PQ protocol by writing a PQ->AQ converter.
> 
> From that perspective, it makes sense to first make sure the AQ
> standard is well-established and then work the PQ in - which, if I
> understand the conversation correctly, is precisely what Keith is
> proposing. So, (I think) I agree with Ray and wonder where the current
> debate is heading.

-- 
Keith Noddle                    Phone:  +44 (0)116 223 1894
AstroGrid Project manager       Fax:    +44 (0)116 252 3311
Dept of Physics & Astronomy     Mobile: +44 (0)7721 926 461
University of Leicester         Skype:  keithnoddle
Leicester                       Email:  ktn at star.le.ac.uk
LE1 7RH, UK                     Web:    http://www.astrogrid.org