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[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: Microsoft Hypes Up XUL As The Greatest Expiriment S ince A
 Hi Michael Michael said: Isn't the whole point of XML portability (or interoperability) across platforms, at the price of "bloated" data and "inefficient" performance? That's usually a good tradeoff, but not if you stay in a proprietary box. Didier replies: I understand your point. May I add that it is potentially that but it depends if these target platforms support the same model. As we all know: XML is only syntax (and a confused document model). It just offers you the guaranty that the language created with it is encoded in a "standard" way. The problem is often not with the XML syntax per se, it is most of the time with the model it represents. When the same XML based domain language is used to encode different models, we have in fact, two different languages. If I say: the bicycle flies from Denver to Dunkerque I could mean that a flying bicycle flew from Denver to dunkerke or that the bicycle was in an airplane from Denver to Dunkerque. My interpretation will depend on my mental model, Idem for computer languages. When meaning is different, even with the same language are we talking about the same language? After all, when, even speaking the "same language", we don't, understand each other don't we say "we don't, speak the same language". A chemist for a new Yorker is not identical to a Londoner chemist. They speak the same language except for this word. When the number of different meaning for the same syntax is too important, we are facing two different languages having the same appearance. Language is related to meaning. What XML brought is simply a common alphabet not shared models, we still live in the Babel tour, we just get a common alphabet and the appearance of portability and interoperability. What Microsoft is simply pursuing its "embrace and expand strategy". One thing I learned about this company and its leader, it's incredibly tenacious. The web doesn't help them keep the cash cows (i.e. us) in the enclosure. Also, they are surfing on the fact that the web created a certain number of developers accustomed to markup languages; they are simply leveraging their knowledge. Finally, by repackaging the old with new clothes, you have a cheap way to offer developers something to fight boredom :-) Cheers Didier PH Martin http://didier-martin.com 
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