[NNTP] 64-bit article counter extension strawman

[Steve Walker]

Jeffrey M. Vinocur wrote:
 > But I really don't want to start piling commands onto the 
front > of every NNTP session, and having separate GROUP64 and LIST
 > ACTIVE64 (or whatever we call them) seems to be the only way to
 > avoid that.

Two commands that do the exact same thing are redundant.  The 
existing 64 bit clean software works fine with the existing 
command set.  What is needed is a method to tell the 32 bit 
software that it won't work and it should go away or accept what 
happens.

It's common practice for servers to zero-pad article numbers. 
What if we just said something like:

Servers that have the capability to handle article numbers 
greater than 2^32-1 MUST zero pad the ranges published by the 
list and group commands.  Clients should expect article numbers 
greater than 2^32-1 if they receive article number responses with 
a text length greater than 10 digits.

The number 2^32-1 fits in a 10 digit text string.  Any zero 
padded number larger than 10 digits is already implying a 
potential article number greater than 10 billion.  Zero padding 
numbers in the list and group output is a very easy and simple 
way to inform the client that article numbers may be given that 
exceed 2^32-1.

As a bonus it fixes the problem without specify any new absolute 
limit, which IMO, a text protocol shouldn't.  If any existing 32 
bit software zero pads greater than 10 digits we could increase 
this number with causing any problems up to 20 digits (64 bit 
number).

Steve.