RE: CDIN pages, working code, and protocol
Bremford, Mike (Mike.Bremford nospam at gs.com)
Tue, 9 Mar 1999 17:44:11 -0000
> > Although we run the risk of "table sprawl", it might not be a bad idea
> to
> > add an artist field to the "tracks" table. This doesn't have to be
> > populated, in which case it can default to the artist on the album, but
> it
> > would be a useful addition given the growing number of compliation
> albums
> > out there.
>
> Why does this have to be CD-only? I was envisioning something more
> general: a "Digital Media Index," or "DMI," that would incorporate
> support for DVD-Audio and Video as well. All that needs to be added
> for DVD is to make "track" numbers actually a "title+track"
> descriptor. This isn't too hard, and it allows us to forego changing
> the library in the near future when the DVD-Audio specification is
> actually released.
>
> Kyle
>
If that's the only change required, then fair enough I suppose. I haven't
got a DVD, but presumably it too is composed of tracks (which have a track
index number), and have a title and optional artist. How does this differ
from the "spec" (please notice the quotes :-) that we already have?
I think we should bear in mind we are not trying to write sendmail or emacs
here - we're trying to reproduce a database which has served us well for
several years which has now gone proprietry, but which has a massive user
base already existing. Bells and whistles are good, but we need just enough
new features to win over the users without making them feel they have to
learn a new system. I would be inclined to concentrate on CD's only, and do
it well.
Having said that, if we can stretch the spec a bit to include DVD or
whatever, why not? Which reminds me - there is a new CD format out which
includes track information on the disk. I know nothing more than that, and
that CD drives for PC's are starting to come out that will read this format.
We should make like boyscouts and be prepared...
Cheers... Mike