[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: XAPI
> [Jonathan Robie] > > > >Is there really an advantage to defining it in IDL first? The IDL could be > >created after the specification is finished in Java, and the Java-based > >specification is probably easier to create, understand, and test. I *like* > >making things language independent, but at this stage, I'm leery of adding > >complexity that doesn't add any new conceptual power. > > Hmmm. IDL == Language independent spec of an API....might this be better > approached > as an XML application? I.e. a DTD for the XML API spec. A doc conforming to > that spec. > that can be down-translated to Java, C++, Python and (gasp) IDL! > > APIs are stuctured docs. Let's practice what we are preaching and capture the > API in XML. Unless there are compelling reasons why this does not make sense. > > Just thinking out loud and looking forward to a discussion on the issue. > > Sean If I may be so bold, this sounds like a great idea to me. Producing an API in Java is a valid approach and is more than defensible considering the current Internet climate. However, there is also an argument to be made for a language-independent approach (as evidenced by the discussion in this thread). If this approach is to be favored, it seems to me to make far more sense to develop a generalized DTD for API specifications and make the specification itself in XML. This would have the following advantages: 1) Make a truly language-independent spec which conforms to the XML philosophy. (I am not going to talk about the "spirit of XML". :-) 2) Produce a reusable DTD which would have significant value in its own right. 3) Provide the perfect basis for generating documentation directly from the API specification. 4) Ensure that every "user" has the necessary expertise to understand the formulation of the spec. I am not sure how many people really master IDL. Presumably anyone using XAPI will be able to read and understand XML. 5) Provide a demonstration to the outside world as to how XML can be used to facilitate language/application independence and information reuse. It couldn't be that hard to write a DSSSL app to produce a concrete language implementation from the XML-based spec, right? Cheers, Matthew ------------------------------------------------ Matthew Gertner Project Manager/Architect, Internet/Document Management POET Software GmbH Tel: +49 (40) 609 90254 Fax: +49 (40) 609 90115 E-mail: matthewg@p... ------------------------------------------------ xml-dev: A list for W3C XML Developers Archived as: http://www.lists.ic.ac.uk/hypermail/xml-dev/ To unsubscribe, send to majordomo@i... the following message; unsubscribe xml-dev List coordinator, Henry Rzepa (rzepa@i...)
|
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
|