[MPEG-OTSPEC] Updates to specification

[Levantovsky, Vladimir]

Hi Simon,

For any updates to be included as part of the ISO amendment to OFF standard, they need to be proposed and discussed on this list first (even if the discussion is a simple nod of approval to confirm a broad consensus on a proposal). From here, the proposed changes are submitted to the ISO Working Group as AHG input with the recommendation to initiate an amendment process (yes, there is a process we need to follow). There has always been a strong desire [and efforts put in place by all interested parties] to make sure that the changes to ISO OFF document and the OpenType specification published on Microsoft website are always synchronized, but they are in effect two separate publications. There have been times when changes discussed and agreed upon on this list would be made in the OT spec before the amendment process is officially completed (it takes time to ballot and approve new documents via ISO channels), and there were times when changes that were made as ISO amendment would be finalized in OFF and then picked up for inclusion in OT spec.

In general, most updates shared and discussed on this list [that we end up developing a consensus for] end up being picked up for inclusion in both OFF and OT specs, and the membership here includes all relevant and interested parties so that no update proposal would ever go unnoticed (as opposed to private GitHub submissions that may not be visible to many on this list). Changes in ISO OFF document are never automatic, and when changes are proposed in the OT spec by MS folks they would also be introduced and discussed on the AHG list.

My recommendation would be to start the discussions here and proceed as appropriate based on the outcome.

Thanks,
Vlad


From: mpeg-otspec <mpeg-otspec-bounces at lists.aau.at> On Behalf Of Simon Cozens
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2020 7:01 AM
To: mpeg-otspec at lists.aau.at
Subject: [MPEG-OTSPEC] Updates to specification

Hello all,

I've just proposed an initial tranche of 32 amendments to the OpenType
Specification through Microsoft's github repository, but I am a little
unclear on the update process and want to seek clarification before
suggesting any more improvements.

Are updates made by Microsoft automatically adopted by ISO OFF when a
new MSOT specification is released? If so, then OFF is entirely
controlled by MS, which would be an interesting and unusual position for
an ISO standard. If not, then how does ISO avoid divergence? What
happens if this community disagrees with a change that MS has made? Does
the synchronization work the other way around - does MS automatically
pick up standard changes that this ad hoc group makes?

Currently we have two sources of the same information, both claiming to
be authoritative. Anyone who has worked with databases knows the dangers
of this situation.

So where is the best place to submit improvements to each standard?
Should I submit identical proposals for OFF improvement here here too?

Simon
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