Manifesto: Rules for standards-makers
Dave Winer's manifesto for creating effective standards, emphasizing interoperability, simplicity, and practical solutions that work in real-world implementations.
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Interop is all that matters
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There are tradeoffs in standards
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Software matters more than formats (much)
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Users matter even more than software
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One way is better than two
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Fewer formats is better
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Fewer format features is better
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Perfection is a waste of time
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Write specs in plain English
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Explain the curiosities
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If practice deviates from the spec, change the spec
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No breakage
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Freeze the spec
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Keep it simple
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Developers are busy
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Mail lists don’t rule
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Praise developers who make it easy to interop
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