Date   : Fri, 24 Aug 2001 01:59:50 +0200
From   : "Mark de Weger" <mark@...>
Subject: FW: RE: Online BBC Games database

Richard Gellman wrote:
> My idea for the protocol was a simple way for any frontend or emulator to
> identify a disc image based on its contents.
> The opportunity to offer additional information is at the
> discretion of the
> emulator/front-end author.

Ah, now I get your idea. Have you taken Robert's comments into account?
(There's heaps of different disc images of the same programs going around.)

Also, if you want more flexible searches, this would affect the required
protocol. That's an important issue to consider. For example, the current
CDDB protocol (as I understand it) only supports queries like "give me all
information about the CD with CRC xxx3281391xx" and would then return "Red
Hot Chili Peppers, Californication, <playlist>, maybe more info". In BBC
terms this might be equivalent to "give me all files (or hyperlinks to the
files) related to Elite".

However, queries like "give me all Red Hot Chili Pepper songs" are not
supported by CDDB. (The BBC equivalent might be "give me all screen shots
for Acornsoft programs").

Mark.

PS. Visited a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert this night :) Recommended! The
best thing is that Frank Black (also in CDDB) was the support act.