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[Anchor Proposal]: Postel's Law (Robustness Principle) #512

@raifdmueller

Description

@raifdmueller

Proposed Term

Postel's Law / Robustness Principle

Context

Source: catalog review of https://lawsofsoftwareengineering.com/.

Why it may qualify as an anchor: An interface-design principle — "be conservative in what you send, be liberal in what you accept." Invoking it shapes input-validation and API-contract reasoning.

  • Precise: a concrete design directive
  • Rich: triggers tolerance, versioning, validation-boundary reasoning
  • Consistent: well-documented principle
  • Attributable: Jon Postel, RFC 761 (1980)

Pre-assessment tier: ★★☆ — the principle is contested in modern security discourse; the anchor doc should note that nuance.

Related existing anchors: ears-requirements, stride.

Pre-submission Checklist

  • Searched existing anchors — not present
  • Well-established concept

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