Discussion (Data): What is a block? Data model and API

[dmsnell]

We have an implementation of the block data structure but we don't know what it should be. We need a specification.

We have more than one implicit data structures:

• Post / Document is an arrangements of blocks, block meta, and danglers (soup) ((extraneous text/HTML))
• Block is a stateful container of a specific kind of data with an associated fallback render to serialize into and a way to render an editor view over that data
• Text is a string of characters/glyphs/inline elements that can be formatted.

We can do things to them:

• Document
  • Insert block at…
  • Remove block at…
  • Replace block at…
  • Split block at… at…
  • Duplicate block at…
• Block
  • Insert/remove/replace content in the block
  • Set/unset attribute
• Text
  • Insert/remove/replace

This is a stub issue to be filled out. Some pieces exist in other issues.

[BE-Webdesign]

Beyond what is a block, we need to also answer how can they be combined, and transformed, ( or maybe that is the same thing ) and how do we represent that.

[aduth]

we need to also answer how can they be combined, and transformed, ( or maybe that is the same thing ) and how do we represent that.

Or if they can be.

Related: #878

[nb]

That’s a great point @BE-Webdesign. It’s a matter of time for somebody to try to build a block that composes other full blocks, not just the form components we offer (example: a template for a photoblog entry – an image, a playlist, and a “buy” button). Or even to try and build a drag & drop UI for building blocks. Composition will be crucial then.