[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: [xsl] ANNOUNCE: Petition to withdraw xsl:script from XSLT 1.1
Len Bullard wrote: > If I read this correctly, the problem is not > the script element but the perceived requirement > that Java (a Sun product) and JavaScript (a > Netscape/AOL product) are required to be supported, > thus engendering a product bias into a language > neutral specification? Yes, it's all about perception. Each of these new extension mechanisms would add nothing in terms of technical functionality to what is already available in XSLT. They provide *convenience* in writing stylesheets that will work with more processors, but still not all processors. While "more interoperable", they will still not be Interoperable. That's the nature of extensions. My problem with xsl:script is that it makes extensions look like something other than extensions. And despite all the arguments I've heard that say that it will not encourage people to include procedural code when they otherwise would not, I believe that it certainly will encourage them to do so. I also believe that XSLT implementors who had not implemented such a scripting functionality before (a la msxsl:script) will do so now, because the W3C has given its blessing on it, and people will be expecting it. What's ironic to me is that XSLT 2.0 will be taking away many of the reasons why people resort to procedural code in the first place (inconvenient string processing, etc.) by adding more convenient built-in functions, etc. Thus, I see xsl:script as a short-term tactic that will take some headaches away but not very forward-thinking or strategic. It may always be necessary to have an extension mechanism. But whenever you use extensions, you're giving up portability. I agree with Uche that xsl:script creates a caste system of XSLT processors; such a caste may eventually exist anyway, but it shouldn't be part of the XSLT spec, for all the reasons I cite above. XSLT is one of the most portable programming languages yet. I'd like to see how long we can keep it that way. Evan
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