[iaufwg] FITS Registry Proposal

[Doug Tody]

On Wed, 15 Mar 2006, Steve Allen wrote:

> On Wed 2006-03-15T16:27:14 -0700, Doug Tody hath writ:
>> I don't think we should try to control the quality of conventions or we
>> are starting to duplicate the standards process.
>
> I agree.
>
> Nevertheless, I am not quite sure that I see how the scheme will work.
>
> Requirement 1 says "must conform".
> The test of this would be dependent on requirement 6, clear and
> concise definition.

As Bob mentioned earlier, for the NVO registry we have a level of compliance
metric.  Anyone is allowed to register a resource, but the NVO will look
at it and assign a level of compliance metric.

The analogy for a FITS convention would be that anyone is allowed to
define and register a convention, but FITS authorities review the convention
and state whether it complies with the relevant FITS standards, is
adequately described in the registry (valid metadata), is adequately
documented, has actual implementations, etc.

Realistically, in most cases, just defining these metrics clearly will
be all that is required to get people to do what is required.

Re re-use of NVO infrastructure: I suppose it would be possible to define
a FITS convention as a type of resource and register it with a profile.
Except that we don't do that currently with IVOA standards and conventions,
rather these are documents of various types.  A FITS convention is probably
analogous to an IVOA Note, although the latter is more general.  A Working
Draft is similar to a convention in a sense, except that it is a formal
part of the standards process - it is commissioned by the working group
chair, unlike FITS conventions, which are defined adhoc by the community.

 	- Doug





> In the absence of a machine-readable syntax for describing a FITS
> convention these place quite a burden on the submittal and approval
> process.  Some human, or group of humans, will have to endure a
> regular process of review.  My impression from attempting to keep
> online information up-to-date is that this will prove very difficult
> in the absence of persons whose designated job includes that task.
>
> How would anyone other than Bill Pence place information on
> fits.gsfc.nasa.gov ?
>
> Is it really sufficient to have the conventions located at a single
> URL?
>
> Shouldn't a FITS conventions be more definitely available in the same
> manner as an ivo:// resource?
>
> In summary, is there some way to make use of VO technologies for
> this short of starting a new focus group within the IVOA?
>
> --
> Steve Allen                 <sla at ucolick.org>                WGS-84 (GPS)
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