New version of VO Support Interfaces: v0.26

[Paul Harrison]

On 08.05.2007, at 00:44, Rob Seaman wrote:

> On May 7, 2007, at 3:31 PM, Roy Williams wrote:
>
>> Questions
>> (1) Can the IVOA support this level of complexity?
>> (2) Where is the robust software that leads the service developer  
>> through the maze?
>> (3) Can the IVOA Recommend any of the above standards in the  
>> absence of that implementation software?
>
> Excellent questions.
>
>> (4) If somebody makes a service that has fabulous science data but  
>> NONE OF THE ABOVE, should the IVOA reject it?
>
> Which begs the question:  what does it mean for the IVOA to  
> "accept" or "reject" a service?  And:  why should an astronomer  
> care if a service with "fabulous science data" is rejected?
>
> Rob Seaman
> NOAO
>

Which all begs the question - should the IVOA even bother trying to  
be a standards body at all? - perhaps it should just be a forum for  
people to publicise their ideas and implementations via notes and let  
Darwin take over.

Paul Harrison
ESO Garching
www.eso.org