Real Men use XML, was quote, was Google Earth...

[Ben Scott]

On 11/14/06, Ted Roche <tedroche at tedroche.com> wrote:
> XML can be superior to plain text .conf files because it can
> introduce structure, character-set specifications and can be
> associated with a schema that can define and validate the document.

  All of that can be applied to just about anything else, too.
/etc/hosts has a very well-defined structure.

  What XML gives you is a standard way to define the structure,
schema, and so on, in a way that is unambiguous and machine-friendly.

  As others have said, the major benefit to this is you don't have to
write a new parser and validator every time you create a new data
structure.  You just use the pre-existing XML library.  Likewise, you
save some time in ramping up a new syntax or whatever.  Kind of like
BNF.  It's not like it does the implementation for you, but at least
everyone understands what the author's trying to get across.

  That being said, the hype behind XML is largely, well, hype.  But
that's nothing new, either.  I'm still waiting for my flying car.

  Currently, XML is fostering some improvements in the area of open
data formats.  While XML does lend itself to this well, I personally
think it is more a coincidence than anything else.  XML just happened
to be in the right place at the right time.  We're fortunate we got
XML, and not something truely awful like DER or OLE Container
Documents or something.

  I'm hoping the magic pixie dust currently associated with XML keeps
the momentum behind open data formats going.

-- Ben