[Sussex] ongoing - XML Is Too Hard ???

[Geoff Teale]

In short, as someone who has worked on XML based standards (principly SVG
1.0) I would say this:

XML is great when used for what it was designed for, but it is not the
answer to everything.  People have jumped on XML because it's a good
buzzword and buzzwords sell books, databases and application servers and
your average programmer wants to be in XML because it seems like a good
career move (like learning VB - see how that one works out over the next few
years ;) ).

XML is perfect where you have complex data that needs to be used in many
different way (in terms of understanding and presentation).  If you data is
simple, bespoke and going between just two systems then, frankly, you would
probably be better served with a well documented, simple file format.

XML brings a lot of powerful things to the table via it's standards and the
technologies built around it.  You need to weigh up the massive advantages
inherent in XML against the complexities inherent in it.  I would advise
this kind of atitude to _any_ technology, too many people just jump on what
the likes of Microsoft are pushing this week.

-- 
geoff.teale at claybrook.co.uk
tealeg at member.fsf.org

"And I hope that you die and your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket in the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead"
 - Bob Dylan, a pacifist :-)

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