On Julius Caesar, Queen Eanfleda, and the lessons from time past
1 Dual standards rather than a single standard cause trouble.
2 If you must have dual standards, specify mandatory conversions or interfaces between them.
3 Never leave anything implementation-dependent
4 If irregularities are unavoidable in a standard (e.g. because of external constraints), put them where they will do the least damage.
5 Never alter standards to please the rich and powerful, unless the changes can be justified on firm technical grounds.
6 Even the most rich and powerful can be persuaded that they will benefit from changing from their local standard to a general one.
7 The most effective standards are those you take so for granted you don't have to think about them.
8 If provisions of standards are based on external assumptions or constraints unrelated to the purpose of the standard, they are likely to appear irrational.
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