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Re: What is XML For?

• To: xml-dev <xml-dev@l...>
• Subject: Re: What is XML For?
• From: Tim Bray <tbray@t...>
• Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 16:05:45 -0700
• In-reply-to: <Pine.LNX.4.44L0.0210231822470.2462-100000@s...>
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Rich Salz wrote:

> >XML is data, not objects. Understand this for it is the zen of XML.
>
>
> But Master, what is an object over the wire but data?

Objects on the wire in the general case are a Really Bad Idea, for a 
bunch of reasons.  Leaving aside the obvious issues of portably 
serializing methods and member data, and making sure you have access to 
anything you might be inheriting, the real deep probem is the fact (most 
eloquently pointed out by Adam Bosworth) that objects can spend a long 
time on the wire, and it's really hard to do serialized objects in a way 
that survives versioning of the software.

XML is in some senses the exact polar *opposite* of the O-O paradigm: 
all the data is exposed and no methods are provided to do anything with 
it and the receiver is free to do with it what the receiver will.  -Tim

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