Document

Title :	Road to Xnfo 1.2
Project :	Xnfo (http://xnfo.sf.net)
Reference :	xnfo-preview
Version :	0.04
Date :	06/08/2003
Author(s) :	Sanx

Changes

Date	Version	Author	Description
06/08/2003	0.04	Sanx	Xnfo namespaces and extensions. New tools and services suggested.
23/07/2003	0.03	Sanx	Some typos have been fixed.
22/07/2003	0.02	Sanx	Xnfo formatting update.
12/06/2003	0.01	Sanx	Synthesis of feedback made by sceners

Subject

This document presents an overview of the 1.2 version of Xnfo. This version comes after the 1.1 version, you should have read the Xnfo Specification.

Goal of this version

Be less verbose (5 lines should be enough for every one).
Be less complete but open.
More adapted, or adaptable to existing online databases.
Be used on parties as production information support.
No more credit/author ambiguity.
XML is just ok, no abuse (hum, maybe, just namespaces, no ?).

New style

Easier

What has been kept as primary information :

production (class/type/category/compo/name/pouet/url/file)
authors (group/person)
release (party/date/rank)
support (platform/os/api/hardware)

More information will be encoded in the string : like platform/os/api/additionnal hardware.

<support platform="pc/dos/gus" platform_name="MS-DOS and GUS"/>

Complementary information is using a new syntax :

<related-content type="screenshot" file="screen01.jpg"/>

<related-content type="screenshot" url="http://www.pouet.net/screen01.jpg"/>

Related content refers to online or archived file containing information :

screenshot
readme
cover
soundtrack
steps/wireframe
preview

<related-info type="audience" info="enjoy this production"/>

Releated info refers to small information that can be used by any system working with the production.

remix-of
audience
partyorg
command
format
award

Examples :

<related-info type="award" info="best demo nominee at the scene.org awards 2002"/>

New features

Xnfo attributes

mode (extracted/authored) : replaces (partial/complete)
source : an url to the source where it has been extracted from.

Extensions

The idea is to keep xnfo core clean, and to open the standard to other systems and software. The way you can do is to create a namespace for tags that are not part of the xnfo core.
The possible extensions identified are :

Standard Xnfo extensions : Hardware support will evolve out of the core of Xnfo.
Online databases extensions : Pouet, Scenemusic, Scene.org, Orange Juice, CSDB and such, are going to be able to add custom information with their ids and more.
Party system extensions : The party systems (submission, launcher, etc.) may handle more information about the productions.
Third party software extensions : Webservices or Emulators, may use Xnfo extensions to handle information or setting.

Tools

We are open on any proposal for the tools you find usefull.

Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xnfo xmlns="http://xnfo.sf.net/std/1.2/"
    xmlns:pouet="http://www.pouet.net/xnfo-extensions/"
    standard="1.2" version="1" mode="extracted" author="sanx(at)fxteam(dot)net">
    <prod class="demo" category="demo" compo="pcdemo"
        name="example" pouet:id="1234"
        file="example.zip">
        <group name="my group" pouet:id="123"/>
        <release party="a nice party" pouet:id="123" date="15/03/2003"
            rank="1"/>
        <support platform="pc/win32" platform_name="Windows"/>
        <related-content type="screenshot" file="screen01.jpg"/>
    </prod>
</xnfo>

Feedback and comments

Feedback is always welcome, the Xnfo 1.2 specification should be concluded in september 2003, so don't hesitate.

This changes are here thanks to the following sceners :

Analogue / Mandarine (pouet.net)
Poti / Black Maiden
PS / Scene.org
Melwyn / Scene.org
Ryg / Farb-rausch
Sin / Concept

This document belongs to xnfo project.