Re: Support for "codice fiscale" syntax

[Kurt Zeilenga <Kurt@OpenLDAP.org>]

On Oct 28, 2008, at 10:50 AM, Pierangelo Masarati wrote:

> I've developed a module that implements support for the syntax of
> "codice fiscale", the personal identification code used by the Italian
> government to uniquely identify citizen.  I think it might be of  
> general
> use, although possibly limited to Italian users, so I'd like to give  
> it
> a somewhat official and unbiased OID, rather than one under my arc or
> SysNet's.

I'm not sure what you mean by "official and unbiased OIDs".  OIDs are  
either properly delegated or not.  Two properly OIDs are equally  
official and have no bias.  They are just a sequence of numbers after  
all.

Now different delegators have different biases, but these biases have  
no impact on the technical aspects of the protocols.

> Would it qualify as general enough for OpenLDAP's OID arc, at
> least while experimental?

To qualify, the question is not whether the use is "general enough".

Simply put, the OpenLDAP OID arc is for the Project's use.  It's not  
for the use by other enterprises.

It primarily used for early implementations of LDAP extensions in  
OpenLDAP Software, such as when the standards development organization  
producing the extension specification has not yet assigned OIDs for  
extension elements.  It's also used for extensions specific to  
OpenLDAP Software and/or the OpenLDAP Project.

Generally speaking, OpenLDAP OID should only be used to identify  
elements used in OpenLDAP Software and otherwise don't otherwise have  
an OID.

> I believe the need for a dedicated syntax (as
> opposed to IA5string, printableString or so) is that its definition,
> although flawed, needs to conform to quite a few restrictions, and a
> syntax that allows to detect trivial errors and single out impossible
> values would be definitely helpful.  I need the OID in order to submit
> code along with an ITS for contrib.  An OID arc would be best, because
> the kit consists in:
>
> - a syntax
> - an equality matching rule (cfMatch)
> - an attribute spec (cf)
> - an auxiliary objectClass spec (cfObject)

Speaking generally (for all contributions):

If you use a dummy OID (e.g., 1.1) in your contribution (and document  
this), then the project should, if your contribution is accepted,  
assign an appropriate OID upon integration.

If you want to make use of your contribution before integration, I  
would suggest you assign an OID from your arc and submit using that.

Speaking with regard to this particular situation, my primary concern  
would be whether your or our assignment would conflict with that of  
the organization standardizing "codice fiscale".  This might be a case  
where we want to consider our code an "early implementation" of a yet  
published standard (where use of a .666 OID is appropriate).  I'm not  
familiar enough with "codice fiscale" to know whether its developers  
would ever assign an OID.

If it wasn't for that, I would say: just submit the contribution to  
see if there were any objections to its integration and, if none,  
integrate it using either your OID (if you already assigned one) or an  
OpenLDAP OID (if not).

> Please comment.
>
> p.
>
>
>
> Ing. Pierangelo Masarati
> OpenLDAP Core Team
>
> SysNet s.r.l.
> via Dossi, 8 - 27100 Pavia - ITALIA
> http://www.sys-net.it
> -----------------------------------
> Office:  +39 02 23998309
> Mobile:  +39 333 4963172
> Fax:     +39 0382 476497
> Email:   ando@sys-net.it
> -----------------------------------