Re: "conformance" vs. compatibility

[Jim Meyering]

ari <address@hidden> wrote:
> My argument relates to IEEE Std 1003.1-2003.

Yes, I too am referring to that standard.
In http://www.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/007904975/utilities/head.html
you noted the `should' in the `APPLICATION USAGE' section:

    The obsolescent - number form is withdrawn in this version.
    Applications should use the -n number option.

Perhaps you didn't see the preceding line:

    The following sections are informative.

in which `informative' is in contrast with `normative'.
I'm not a standards lawyer, but I have the impression that
when interpreting the standard, one must pay close attention
to the wording in the normative (prescriptive) parts.
The wording in non-normative (descriptive) sections doesn't
define the standard.

After 10 years of being merely `obsolescent', head -N has finally
been officially declared to be `obsolete'.