[ih] Did the MIL-STD matter? [IETF relevance (was Memories of Flag Day?)]

[Dave Crocker]

On 9/5/2023 10:19 AM, Miles Fidelman via Internet-history wrote:
> The DoD Protocol Handbook - containing the TCP/IP, FTP, and SMTP standards


This otherwise-superb, multi-volume document demonstrated an issue -- 
though I prefer to call it a combination of errors -- that created a 
professional life lesson for me.

It cites SMTP, but not RFC 822.  They didn't realize that the RFC was an 
independently-usable (and used) Internet protocol.

The lesson for me was the power of acronyms.  Make sure a specification 
comes with a short-form name or initials.  Oh, and that people get into 
the habit of using it.

d/

-- 
Dave Crocker
Brandenburg InternetWorking
bbiw.net
mast:@dcrocker at mastodon.social