Re: [Tclxml-users] How to generate an XML document using TCL

[Peter F. <pet...@zv...>]

Steve Cassidy wrote:
> 
> 
> Human readability isn't really one of XML's properties -- more like
> 'potential human decodeability' in that it's possible to use XML in such a
> way that the meaning of the structure is transparent.

very true.

> Of course it's also
> possible to use it to make data formats just as opaque as MSWord's binary
> format.

sorry i have to disagree. I never seen xml from any source that was
anywhere near obscure as MSWord's proprietary binary format .. 
Having said that, its true that anyone can make XML content more obscure
than it needs to be by ignorance or lack of effort ...

This leads me to some other benefits of XML - in an emergency I can
_edit_ any arbitrary pieces of xml with just about any simple, ascii
capable editor (i.e just about everything) on any platform without
having to spend a cent.  I doubt that you can compare MSW binary fmts
and XML on any level. <PhilosophicalMode> For lots of reasons MSW
document formats will never be ubiquitous, but XML has the chance to be.
I think thats the key to improving our lot - ubiquitous technology
</PhilosophicalMode>. 

> 
> One of my main motivations for using XML as a serialisation format is that it
> removes the need to invent a new format and write a parser for it.  I'm bad
> at inventing new formats and when I've done it I've always found a little
> later that I need to extend it in some way that I didn't forsee. XML makes it
> much more likely that I'll be able to do that.  

a key feature - the promise of a ubiquitous array of standards based,
extensible, portable tools for a wide range of document and data
manipulation tasks. 

And dont get me started on the raft of applications and/or application
instances that have expensive database backends (purchase cost / system
resource or admin labour wise) when all they need is a decent filesystem
and structured content ....

> It also means that I don't
> need to write the parser (of course this argument doesn't hold if you're
> Steve Ball :-)

All hail Steve "lets write our CMS in xslt" Ball - he is a guru  8-). 
I know he will gladly accept offerings at the TCLXML alter to ease his
pain ;-) 

And I'd me amiss not to take this opportunity to remind everyone that as
a Steve and I are very busy these days earning a quid with our company,
so any help in writing parsers and assorted peripheral stuff is most
welcome ...



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