[alicebot-archcomm] Summary of items under discussion

[Gary Dubuque]

So far we have a couple of things that could change the architecture of AIML
and a few things that clear up the standards document.  The latter probably
does not warrant a point increase in the version number of 1.01.

Changes to AIML:

* Replacing <javascript> and possibly <system> and including new tags like
<php> and <perl> and <script> with a generic tag called <serverside> or
possible <ss> that has an optional attribute specifying the scripting
language.

* A conditional wildcard for formatted inputs such as dates or urls or
number, etc.  This change seems to have been tabled until it can be
demonstrated.

* A communication specification for exchanging data between bots.   This is
an experimental issue for discussion.

Cleaning up of "standard" documentation:

* "Working Draft" replaced with "Official Standard" that can be quoted in
references to AIML.

* Adjacent stars consume minimal input required to make a match.  The left
hand stars therefore consume exactly one word while any remaining input ends
up in the most right hand star. In other words, a wildcard matches one to
many words except if immediately followed by another wildcard in which case
it only matches one word.

* Stars are local to their category.

* Either the chart or the narrative in section "8.4.1. Explanation via
implementation description: Graphmaster" will be adjusted so they represent
the same thing.  A summary may be added to translate the process into
simpler explicit terms.

* <javascript> and <system> remain part of the standard, but it is stated
they are optional specifications.

* The merge policy for duplicate categories needs to be included (just as an
explanation.)

* The bot's behavior when no pattern is matched is undefined (unless we want
to agree on something here.)

Respectfully,
   Gary Dubuque
   New kid on the AIML block