Use Case 13

Basic access to serializations of the data format

(brian)

A user of the data wants to be able to read a serialized instance of the data format without resorting to special API/tools. They utilize commonly available tools that can read UTF-16 encoded blocks on their OS/platform such as textedit (Win) or 'more' (or 'less') on Unix platforms to look at the header. The header metadata contains directions on how to read information which occurs after this initial metadata. Furthermore the instance is clearly versioned so that it is clear which version of the serialization applies (and thereby look up the correct documentation and/or obtain a compatible library/parser). As needed the user can continue to use the common tool or may acquire/write special software to read the information which occurs past the initial metadata block.