[Config4gnu-developer] XML representation

[Jason L. <jl...@me...>]

Justin, here's my current understanding of the XML representation created by
the "parsers" and read by the prototype gnome-client.

First, some definitions:
Node:
 a configuration "Node" is an element of the configuration. it has a name,
type, a list of child nodes, and a list of associated properties. In the
gnome-cfg prototype, nodes appear in a tree on the left pane.

Property:
 a configuration "Property" is an association between a name and a value. In
the prototype, properties appear in the right pane when a node is selected.

XML representation

there is a rough correspondance between XML entities and configuration
nodes. Basically, any entity with an attribute "sectionname" defined will
appear as a node.

the type of node is defined by the name of the element.

For instance, the entity
 <section sectionname="Daemons"> ... </section>
defines a node of type "section" named "Daemons".

Properties are defined by <property> elements.
The name of the property is the "name" attribute of the property element.
The value of the property is the contents of the <value> entity which the
<property> element contains.

As an example, this XML excerpt:
 <property name="debug level">
   <value>10</value>
 </property>
defines a property with the name "debug level" and the value "10".

This XML representation is what I've been working towards in the prototype.
Let me know what you think.

Jason