Specific Structure

[From ConfigurationItem]

Structure is important, because it introduces semantics. More precisely, it may allow to introduce semantics (e.g. with apodictic formal systems, i.e. constructions of symbols, which become constrained by the relationship, that is, the syntax), or it may leverage existing semantics.

In the case of SCM, there exists a fundamental ground for basic semantics with the concept of sameness (at various levels), so it is arguably the latter.

Now, the structure we found in directories is specific, not generic (as sameness is). This kind of structure is only found in directory items, not in others. Note that similar kinds of specific structures can be found in other kinds of configuration items, e.g. in documents (there is often a table of contents, with an introduction, chapters etc.), or even in web or wiki pages such as these ones (consider the mesh of links, and note that these will only become dependencies once traversed --thus interpreted according to a specific syntax-- by a tool).

Being specific, this kind of semantics is out of the scope of SCM. SCM is only concerned with generic semantics.

-- MarcGirod - 16 Feb 2003