NIP-7A: comment-based patches

[fiatjaf]

This is inspired by #1091.

The core idea is that this is meant for small quality-of-life improvements, like fixing a typo or adding a missing word, it's not meant to fully replace the original content.

Because of that it is backwards-compatible (i.e. the original event still stands on its own) and these patches at best add some new things, which can be read anyway by any existing client as these patches will just show up as normal comments.

NIP text: https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/8fec4a5f8c477a3454eeba411d956919c6a1cbfb/7A.md

The patch format is invented by me because I couldn't find anything that produced reasonably-human-readable output and was simple enough. It works pretty well in my tests, including some edge cases. Here's a stupid playground: https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/fb4718ff-ea13-45eb-8460-f55e9a7e225c

[gsovereignty]

Implementation skill https://github.com/gsovereignty/nip9a

[staab]

I don't think this is really human readable. Could you choose a different kind at least?

Also, nip 9a is already used by #2194 (and several relays signal for it)

[vitorpamplona]

Don't overload kind 1111.

[fiatjaf]

I don't think this is really human readable.

Sure, it isn't fully human readable. Do you think it is possible to make it more human-readable or do you just want to complain?

Could you choose a different kind at least?

Using a different kinds defeats the entire purpose of it, as you should know as the author of the proposal linked above. So no, that can't be the solution.

Also, nip 9a is already used

Changed to 7A.

[vitorpamplona]

This DIFF is complete shit for a regular user. Displaying as text in replies is absolutely horrendous.

[staab]

I still think annotations are better #1091. But I've not implemented it so I obviously don't have strong opinions.

[nilskp]

I'm not a fan of redundant information as it opens up for inconsistency. Why not just:

4 -4 +everyone
14 -6 +Monday
32 -9 +moved to 2pm

[fiatjaf]

I'm not a fan of redundant information as it opens up for inconsistency. Why not just:

4 -4 +everyone
14 -6 +Monday
32 -9 +moved to 2pm

You mean the length of the added text? It's because some characters are evil, like newlines.

But I'm ok with this and then we just forbid adding evil characters ever if more people prefer this way.

[nilskp]

You mean the length of the added text? It's because some characters are evil, like newlines.

Got it.

I do think newlines are desirable for edits, but can't they just be escaped \n?

[fiatjaf]

What if we did something like this:

4 -5 +8 anyone = everyone

Would it be more naturally readable?

[vitorpamplona]

4 -5 +8 anyone = everyone
Would it be more naturally readable?

You guys have a sense of humor.