Rather than landing all at once, these updates will arrive step by step. However, the direction is already clear.
From one book to many focused articles
The most visible change sits in the structure. The current chapter-based format will give way to a collection of individual articles. Think of it less as a single manual and more as a growing library.
This shift allows content to evolve faster. Therefore, updates no longer require reshaping an entire document. Instead, specific articles can change as requirements, practices, and standards move forward.
Meanwhile, content that no longer supports today’s work will quietly leave the stage. The result should feel leaner and easier to navigate.
Sharpening the focus on what matters now
Functional requirements take center stage in the upcoming version. Many of these topics have changed in recent months, and the IDSA Rulebook will reflect that reality more clearly. As a consequence, outdated sections will be removed. Readers should spend less time filtering information and more time applying it.
One topic surfaced quickly as both important and overdue: a dedicated IDSA glossary.
At the moment, the IDSA Rulebook relies on external glossaries, including those from other initiatives. While useful, this creates friction. Terms drift. Interpretations vary. Discussions slow down.
Therefore, several working groups will now collaborate on a shared IDSA glossary. This work cuts across domains, which makes coordination essential. However, it also offers a chance to align language across technical, legal, and organizational perspectives.
Over time, this glossary should reduce misunderstandings and speed up collaboration.
A living and growing rulebook
Taken together, these changes signal a shift in how the IDSA Rulebook lives and grows. It becomes more modular. It stays closer to current practice. It speaks a clearer language.
Most importantly, it invites participation. The IDSA Rulebook is no longer something that updates occasionally in the background. It becomes a shared working space that reflects how data spaces actually operate.
