[Exist-development] Betterforms - part of the eXist core vs. extension module

[Thomas W. <tho...@gm...>]

Dear group,

I do not know if eXist team has made its final decision to make BetterForms
part of the core code instead of being an extension, but I decided speak up
and add one more perspective to the case.

In large scale projects like eXist there are always two opposite tendencies:
1. Keep the core lean and use a mechanism like extensions to allow
developers to pick and choose only what they need. This model allows
unlimited flexability.
2. Add more and more to the core believing the more the better.

I strongly believe that keeping the core as light as possible is always a
good thing - it is easier to maintain, it is more stable and it has a small
footprint.

For everybody else who is not interested in using XForm, this code located
in the core will be just dormant megabites (7000+ files, 40Mb at the
moment) that are never used but always installed and dragged around.
An example for this approach is Cocoon. Long time ago become clear it is not
used by the community any more and it is still part of the core. (no
judgement, just an example)

I do not think that if a code is made as an extension module it makes it
less useful or diminishes its value in any way. It is just much easier to
opt out.

Having said all this I would like to stress the fact that I respect and
appreciate the work Betterform team has done.

Regards,
Thomas

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Thomas White

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