Standard for address books ?

[Henry Jen]

On Nov 28, 2007 1:26 PM, Mildred <ml.mildred593 at online.fr> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I wonder if it could be possible to elaborate a standard to let all
> applications on current free desktops share the same address book ?
>

Would love to see that happen.

>
> For example we could imagine a standard (and extensible) database using
> for example LDIF and stored in ~/.local/share/addresses/ And then we
> could configure every software to use this database (or not).
>
> I would like to see the same things with Mails (be able to switch MUA
> without loosing all the mails in local folders), but I think it is more
> important to start with contacts. Moreover, you don't change your MUA
> every day.
>
>
> So what do you think ?

IMHO, the main issue is what data need to be included in such an
address book, i.e. the schema.
As access method, many MUA today supports LDAP, maybe the protocol can
be used as a shortcut to achieve this goal?

>
> Maybe my idea of a shared database is not really good, but I don't see
> something else. If you have any ideas, please share.
>
> Also, if a such standard exists, I didn't find it (and it is obviously
> not applied), please give me pointers.
>

As for format or schema, there are vCard, FOAF, and LDAP schema
defined from various sources. I am not sure if there is a dominate
standard.

If we can get open source projects agree on a common set of schema,
that would be a great achievement. :-)

Cheers,
Henry