[alicebot-archcomm] Another suggestion for AIML architecture

[Dr. Rich Wallace]

The <system> tag, while deceptively simple at first glance, opens up a
Pandora's Box of semantic issues, doesn't it?

>
> The only problem is standardization of the <system> tag itself. There
> are a number of issues to consider: whether <system> should start a new
> process and run asynchronously or synchronously. If async, do we allow
> output from the new process -- I would assume no here. How would you
> specify if it is to be synchronous or asynchronous .. if both are to be
> allowed. For example, launching an application should be asychronous.
> Getting a directory listing, however, should be synchronous, as we need
> to capture the output of the command.
>
> Then there are multi-user issues. Does calling a synchronous command
> that takes a long time (possibly infinite), does the server block all
> other requests until this process has finished? Can a different user
> still interact with the bot?
>
> Server-side scripting is a complex issue .. providing a single abstract
> interface, the <system> tag is just scratching the surface ;-)
>
>