Sharp Format

A class of text-based file formats where the first line is of the form "#format" + space + a URI-like identifier for the specific format.

The format identifier should be a URI, or at least consist only of characters that would be valid in a URI. It may be an opaque identifier, or link to a machine-readable description of the format (in which case it may well include the URI of a document that describes the format, either prefixed with "x-rdf-subject:" or postfixed with "#", which I generally consider to be equivalent in this sort of context).

The format identifier may, depending on the identified format, be followed by whitespace and some options, and finally a newline character. The formatting and meaning of the options is completely up to the specific format.

Common Conventions

Beyond the format identifier, everything is up to the specific format. But there are some typical characteristics / recommended conventions:

SharpFormat as a format itself

"#format http://ns.nuke24.net/Formats/SharpFormat" as the first line of a file indicates that the rest of the file follows some 'sharp format', and therefore the next non-blank, non-comment line should be another "#format" line. It could be "#format http://ns.nuke24.net/Formats/SharpFormat" again, if you like repetition.

"http://ns.nuke24.net/X-2024/Formats/HashFormat" is an alias for "http://ns.nuke24.net/Formats/SharpFormat".

Some Sharp Formats

Some Not-Quite SharpFormats

See Also