% JSON Domain Format as Implemented by Pdns-Pipe-Nmc
+This document is based on
+[Namecoin Domain Name Specification](https://wiki.namecoin.info/index.php?title=Domain_Name_Specification).
+It tries to follow it closely, and clarify parts that are not
+specified, or specified ambiguously, in the original document.
+
+One notable deviation is the specification of `"delegate"` and `"import"`
+attributes: domain objects to which their value point are
+replacing/merging to the domain object in which they are defined.
+This seems to be in line with at least one existing "real world"
+implementation.
+
+This specification is implemented by the `pdns-pipe-nmc` program.
+
## Data Format
### `DomObj` Object
| Key | Type | Comment |
|-------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
-| service | Array(SrvObj) | Located two levels above pos. |
+| service | Array(SrvObj) | Located two levels above position |
| ip | Array(String) | Dotted quad format "1.2.3.4" |
| ip6 | Array(String) | Semicolon format "DEAD::BEEF" |
| tor | String | Onion name |
| i2p | I2pObj | |
| freenet | String | |
| alias | String | Nullifies other attributes |
-| translate | String | Nullifies other attributes |
+| translate | String | Nullifies the "map" attribute |
| email | String | Used in `SOA` |
| loc | String | Format suitable for `LOC` |
| info | JsonObj | Currently unspecified |
| ns | Array(String) | Domain names as in `NS` |
| delegate | String | Replaces current object |
-| import | Array(String) | "Deep" merges into current obj. |
+| import | Array(String) | "Deep" merges into current object |
| map | Map(String:DomObj) | Tree of subdomain objects |
| fingerprint | Array(String) | |
| tls | Map(String:Map(String:Array(TlsObj))) | Outer `Map` by `Protocol`, inner by `Port` |
* Any attribute specified as `Array(String)` may be present in the
JSON document as a plain `String`, which is interpreted the same way
- as an `Array` containing a single `String` element.
+ as an `Array` containing a single `String` element. In other words,
+ `"ip":"1.2.3.4"` is equivalent to `"ip":["1.2.3.4"]`. (This does not
+ apply to non-string-array attributes, like "service" or "ds".)
* If `DomObj` is a `String`, it is interpreted as an IPv4 address.
In other words, string `"1.2.3.4"` is the same as the Map
`"{\"ip\":\"1.2.3.4\"}"`. Such "shorthand" DomObj can be present at
| 2 | Int | Priority |
| 3 | Int | Weight |
| 4 | Int | Port |
-| 5 | String | Hostname |
+| 5 | String | FQDN |
#### Notes
* `Service` and `Protocol` are two elements of the domain name, without
the undescore '_'.
* `SrvObj` with Service `"smtp"`, Protocol `"tcp"` and Port `25` is also
- interpteted as an `MX` DNS resource.
+ interpteted as an `MX` DNS resource at the domain level containing the
+ `"service"` object.
* When lookup is performed for `SRV` records at fqdn
`"_serv._proto.sub.dom.bit"`, domain object for `"sub.dom.bit"` must be
fetched, and in this object, `SrvObj`s for the Service `"serv"` and
| 1 | String | Match value - certificate or hash of it as hex string |
| 2 | Int | Include subdomains - 0:No, 1:Yes |
+#### Notes
+
+* The fields of the object correspond to the attributes defined by
+ [RFC-6698](http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6698) ("DANE").
+
### `DsObj` Object
`DsObj` is a heterogenous Array of fixed size containing 4 elements:
| 2 | Int | Hash Type |
| 3 | String | Hash Value as hex string |
+#### Notes
+
+* The fields of the object correspond to the attributes defined by
+ [RFC-3658](http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3658).
+
## Data Interpretation
+### Semantics of the Attributes
+
+#### service attribute
+
+Translates to DNS `SRV` RR, only it is located in the subdomain tree
+two levels higher than the `SRV` record would. For example, a
+`"service"` attribute in the `"map"` hieararchy at the point
+corresponding to the FQDN "sub.dom.bit" with the value
+
+```
+"service": [ ["imap", "tcp", 0, 0, 143, "mail.host.com" ],
+ ["smtp", "tcp", 0, 0, 25, "relay.host.com"] ]
+```
+
+corresponds to two `SRV` RRs at two different points in the
+subdomain tree:
+
+```
+_imap._tcp.sub.dom.bit. IN SRV 0 0 143 mail.host.com.
+_smtp._tcp.sub.dom.bit. IN SRV 0 0 25 relay.host.com.
+```
+
+In addition to these, an `MX` RR is syntesized at the "sub.dom.bit"
+level:
+
+```
+sub.dom.bit. IN MX 0 relay.host.com.
+```
+
+Note: Hostname element **must** be specified as fully qualified domain
+name of the host, and **must not** terminate with a dot.
+This requirement seems to be in line with many existing definitions in
+the blockchain; however it deviates from the BIND zone file format, in
+which names that have not terminating dot are automatically expanded
+by attaching the current origin zone to the end of the name.
+
+#### ip attribute
+
+Contains a list of strings representing IPv4 addresses in dotted
+quad notation. For example,
+
+```
+"ip": ["1.2.3.4", "5.6.7.8"]
+```
+
+translates into a series of `A` RRs:
+
+```
+ IN A 1.2.3.4
+ IN A 5.6.7.8
+```
+
+#### ip6 attribute
+
+Contains a list of strings representing IPv6 addresses in semicolon
+quads notation. For example,
+
+```
+"ip6": ["2001:4860:0:1001::68"]
+```
+
+translates into one AAAA RR:
+
+```
+ IN AAAA 2001:4860:0:1001::68
+```
+
+#### tor attribute
+
+Does not translate into any DNS RR. Contains Tor hidden service address.
+
+```
+"tor": "eqt5g4fuenphqinx.onion"
+```
+
+#### i2p attribute
+
+Does not translate into any DNS RR. Contains an object with three
+optional String attributes: `"destination"`, `"name"` and `"b32"`.
+
+```
+"i2p": { "destination": "XaZscx...0jGAAAA"
+ , "name": "example.i2p"
+ , "b32" : "ukeu...nkdq.b32.i2p"
+ }
+```
+
+#### freenet attribute
+
+Does not translate into any DNS RR. Contains Freesite key.
+
+```
+"freenet": "USK@0I8g...xbZ4,AQACAAE/Example/42/"
+```
+
+#### alias attribute
+
+Translates into `CNAME` RR. Invalidates all other attributes.
+
+```
+"alias": "realhost.example.bit"
+```
+
+Notes:
+* Hostname **must** be specified as fully qualified domain
+ name of the host, and **must not** terminate with a dot.
+* Element of the `"map"` with empty key, `"delegate"` and `"import"`
+ are processed before this invalidation takes place.
+
+#### translate attribute
+
+Translates into `DNAME` RR. Invalidates the contents of the `"map"`
+attribute.
+
+```
+"translate": "otherhost.bit"
+```
+
+Notes:
+* Hostname **must** be specified as fully qualified domain
+ name of the host, and **must not** terminate with a dot.
+* Element of the `"map"` with empty key, `"delegate"` and `"import"`
+ are processed before this invalidation takes place.
+
+#### email attribute
+
+Translates into the `email` element of the SOA and RP RRs. The
+value `"email":"user@domain.tld"` becomes `user.domain.tld.`
+in the DNS record.
+
+```
+"email": "hostmaster@example.bit"
+```
+
+#### loc attribute
+
+Translates into `LOC` RR. Value must conform to the format defined
+by [RFC-1876](http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1876).
+
+```
+"loc": "46 31 18.000 N 6 34 26.000 E 401.00m 1m 10000m 10m"
+```
+
+#### info attribute
+
+Does not translate into any DNS RR. Contains a JSON object with
+format unspecified at the time of this writing. Intented for
+the registrant information.
+
+#### ns attribute
+
+Translates into `NS` RR. Because it effectively delegates all
+control over the domain to external nameservers, it also invalidates
+all other attributes.
+
+```
+"ns": ["ns.myserver.net", "192.168.3.4"]
+```
+
+Notes:
+* Hostname **must** be specified as fully qualified domain
+ name of the host, and **must not** terminate with a dot.
+* Element of the `"map"` with empty key, `"delegate"` and `"import"`
+ are processed before this invalidation takes place.
+
+#### delegate attribute
+
+Does not translate into any DNS RR. Instead, the value is used as
+a key for namecoin lookup (i.e. the value must be specified with
+the namespace prefix), and the result of the lookup replaces all
+other attributes
+
+```
+"delegate": "s/example74845"
+```
+
+Notes:
+* Element of the `"map"` with empty key, `"delegate"` and
+ `"import"` are processed before this invalidation takes place.
+* Unlike many other attributes, this can only contain a single
+ string as the value, rather than a list.
+
+#### import attribute
+
+Does not translate into any DNS RR. Instead, the value is used as
+the key for namecoin lookup (i.e. the value must be specified with
+the namespace prefix), and the result of the lookup is merged with
+the current domain object.
+
+```
+"import": ["dd/example", "s/example6473"]
+```
+
+#### map attribute
+
+JSON Map object containing subdomain names as its keys and domain
+objects as values. Element of the map with empty key "" has special
+meaning: the value of this map element is merged into the current
+domain object. This operaton happens first when a new domain object
+is analyzed, and is performed recursively. In the result of the
+merge, the `"map"` does not contain the element with empty key.
+Further operatons that can potentially modify the contents of the
+current domain object (`import` and `delegate` lookups) start when
+the empty element of the `"map"` has been recursively merged into
+the current object.
+
+```
+"map": { "www": { "alias" : "www.example.com." }
+ , "www2": { "delegate": "d/example" }
+ }
+```
+
+#### fingerprint attribute
+
+Does not translate into any DNS RR. Contains a list of TLS
+certificate fingerprints. Deprecated.
+
+#### tls attribute
+
+Intended to carry attributes as per
+[RFC-6698](http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6698) ("DANE").
+
+```
+"tls": {
+ "tcp": {
+ { "443": [ [1, "660008F9...7621B787", 1] ]
+ , "25": [ [1, "660008F9...7621B787", 1] ]
+ }
+ }
+ }
+```
+
+#### ds attribute
+
+Translates into `DS` RR. Carries attributes defined by
+[RFC-4034](http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4034).
+
+```
+"ds": [ [31381,8,1,"pA1W...ceTI="]
+ , [31381,8,2,"toHB...ndexitQ6j8E="]
+ ]
+```
+
+### Lookup Sequence
+
Assuming a query is performed for
`sdN`++"."++{...}++"."++`sd2`++"."++`sd1`++"."++`dom`++".bit"
(`sdX` list possibly being empty), the lookup process starts by
1. Value of the element of the `"map"` attribute with the key `""`
(empty string) is recursively merged into the base domain. The
`""` element of the `"map"` is removed from the result.
-2. If attribute `"import"` does not exist in the resulting object,
- recursion stops, and step 3 is performed on the result
+2. If attribute `"delegate"` does not exist in the resulting object,
+ step 3 is is performed. If attribute `"delegate"` exists, in
+ the resulting object, lookup is performed for the values of this
+ attribute, and fetched object replaces the base domain completely.
+ The result is passed as base domain to step 1.
+3. If attribute `"import"` does not exist in the resulting object,
+ recursion stops, and step 4 is performed on the result
If attribute `"import"` exists in the resulting object, lookup is
- is performed for the values of this attribute, and fetched objects
- are recursively merged into the base domain. The `"import"` attribute
- is removed from the result. Then the result is passed as base
- domain to step 1.
-3. If subdomain chain is empty, recursion stops, and step 4 is
+ performed for the values of this attribute, and fetched objects
+ are recursively merged into the base domain. The `"import"`
+ attribute is removed from the result. Then the result is passed
+ as base domain to step 1.
+4. If subdomain chain is empty, recursion stops, and step 5 is
performed on the result. If subdomain chain is not empty, next
element is taken out of the chain, and the `"map"` is looked
up for the element with the name matching the subdomain element.
The value of this element of the `"map"` is passed as base domain
to step 1. If matching element does not exist, lookup is considered
failed.
-4. Domain object with all `""` map elements and all `"import"` data
- merged is "normalized" by removal of attributes that are nullified
- by the presence of other attributes.
+5. Domain object in which all `""` map elements and all `"delegate"`
+ and `"import"` elements are acted upon and removed, is then
+ "normalized" by removal of attributes that are nullified by the
+ presence of other attributes.
-Note that the process involves recursion nested to three levels.
+Note that the process involves recursion nested levels deep.
-## Merging
+### Merging Procedure
-When a domain object `sub` needs merging into a domain object `base`,
+When a domain object `extra` needs merging into a domain object `base`,
the following rules are applied:
* Of `String` and other "scalar" attributes, one is chosen, the value
* On `Array` attribtes, `union` operation is performed. (Of equal
elements, only one copy is left.)
* On `Map` attributes, recursive merge is performed. On the top level,
- elemens with keys that are only present in either `base` or `sub`
+ elemens with keys that are only present in either `base` or `extra`
object are all put into result. The values of the elements that are
- present in both `base` and `sub` are merged according to the rules
- applicable to their type.
+ present in both `base` and `extra` objects are merged according to
+ the rules applicable to their type.