https://bz.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=70024

--- Comment #10 from Rich Bowen <[email protected]> ---
Thanks for this patch. The intent — clarifying what Pattern matches and what
Substitution replaces — is worthwhile.

However, I'd like to suggest a different approach before committing this as-is:

1. Split into smaller patches

This bundles at least 4 independent changes. Reviewing and committing
separately would be much easier:

- (A) Add [!] to the syntax line — trivial, can commit immediately
- (B) Consolidate the Negation note — low-risk reformatting
- (C) Rewrite "What is matched?" section
- (D) Restructure Substitution section from <dl> to nested <ul>

2. Guide vs. reference doc placement

The expanded Rewrite Guide (docs/manual/rewrite/) has recently been
substantially rewritten. Much of what this patch adds to the directive synopsis
is already covered:

- VirtualHost vs. per-directory matching → rewrite/htaccess.xml §"What URL does
the rule see?"
- Directory-path stripping → rewrite/htaccess.xml §"path-stripping"
- Sequential rule application → rewrite/tech.xml §"API Phases"

The httpd docs deliberately separate terse reference (mod/*.xml) from
explanatory guide content (rewrite/*.xml). I'd prefer to keep the directive
synopsis concise and cross-reference the guide rather than duplicating
tutorial-level explanations inline.

3. On "subject-path" terminology

I'd rather not introduce new terminology here. The relevant concepts already
have well-defined names in RFC 7230/9110 (request-target, path) and in httpd's
own vocabulary (URL-path, filesystem path). Coining "subject-path" doesn't
clarify — it adds a term readers then have to map back to the standard ones.
The current approach of explaining contextually what the pattern is matched
against is sufficient.

4. Technical concerns

- "The subject-path and directives such as DocumentRoot and Alias determine the
currently mapped filesystem path" — this inverts the causality.
DocumentRoot/Alias determine the mapped path; the prefix is stripped from that
to produce what the pattern sees.

- "satisfied if and only if the pattern has at least 1 match" — a regex either
matches a string or it doesn't. This phrasing implies multiple matches are
possible against a single string.

Suggested path forward:

- Commit patches A and B directly
- For C and D: consider whether the content you want to add is already in the
Rewrite Guide docs. If it's not there, that's where it should go — with a
cross-reference from the directive synopsis.

Happy to discuss further.

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