Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!alberta!atha!lyndon@aurthanc.AthabascaU.CA
From: lyndon@aurthanc.AthabascaU.CA (Lyndon Nerenberg)
Newsgroups: can.uucp
Subject: Re: new uucp maps are out
Message-ID: <518@aurora.AthabascaU.CA>
Date: 11 Apr 89 19:32:59 GMT
References: <89Apr10.101145edt.38137@neat.ai.toronto.edu>
Sender: news@aurora.AthabascaU.CA
Reply-To: lyndon@atha.uucp (Lyndon Nerenberg)
Distribution: can
Organization: Athabasca University
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In-reply-to: rayan@ai.toronto.edu (Rayan Zachariassen)

I like the idea of the server, however I think some form of
syntax checking is mandatory, otherwise you're just going to
create more work for yourself.

It shouldn't be too difficult to build a grammer specifying the
format of the map entries. If the map "checker" doesn't like
what it sees it can just bounce the message back to the originator
(hopefully with a reasonable diagnostic).

One thing that does concern me about this method is it seems to
make life simpler for someone to forge a map entry for a site.
One advantage of having a human in the chain is s/he can spot
questionable submissions and verify them with the site admins.
The software could be built to only accept updates from mail
addresses in the existing map's #E entry. Unfortunately, this
doesn't always reflect reality. Witness the map entries for
ncc and apss. Although I'm no longer listed as the contact
person for either of these sites, I still handle submitting
the map updates.

All in all, I think it's a good idea and should be pursued
further.