Cart
|
[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] Re: Pushing all the buttons
 At 8:29 PM -0400 9/20/03, Liam Quin wrote: >As far as I can tell, people *are* using binary representations >of XML in various ways, for various purposes, already. They aren't >going to stop just because W3C doesn't tell them how to do it, or >just because xml-dev doesn't like it :-) > >So the question as I see it becomes, is there a way to specify a >binary format, or binary interfhange framework of some kind, in >such a way that a significant majority of the people currently >using binary formats agree to implement and use it? You're still assuming in advance of the facts. This is *exactly* what I was afraid of from the W3C. You're saying if we can do something, we should do something. The question is not really whether it's possible. It is clearly possible as many existing binary formats prove. The question is (or should be) whether it's a good idea. My belief is that a binary format of the sort you're talking about so pollutes the XML brand and the XML environment that it is actively harmful, interoperable or no. I would much rather have a thousand non-standard, non-interoperable binary formats without any official status than a single W3C blessed format. Unofficial binary standards won't be adopted in any large part, and won't be able to be exchanged and won't be adopted outside of small groups and single organizations. Their effect on the Web and the XML community will be minimal. However, a single orthodox binary representation will replace XML in many more cases leading to a less interoperability and much less transparency overall. -- Elliotte Rusty Harold elharo@m... Processing XML with Java (Addison-Wesley, 2002) http://www.cafeconleche.org/books/xmljava http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D0201771861/cafeaulaitA 
|
PURCHASE STYLUS STUDIO ONLINE TODAY!Purchasing Stylus Studio from our online shop is Easy, Secure and Value Priced! 
Download The World's Best XML IDE!Accelerate XML development with our award-winning XML IDE - Download a free trial today! Subscribe in XML format
|
|||||||||
