[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] RE: Avoding a repeat of W3C XSD - was Re: Is Web 2.0
Yeah, it gets old tossin' TV sets into the pool, so now we sing songs badly and loudly and laugh a lot until the security guys show up because people are complaining about the noise. It does happen ;-). I gave those two examples because they are different. I'm not asking for the dirt, but for people to note simplicity isn't the only requirement but if complexity is a problem, take a look at the semantics you are being asked to support and ask yourself if you can cut that list down. A simple metric is if you get a request for a feature and someone can't write at least pseudocode in n minutes to show how that would be implemented, toss it. (It doesn't have to be good code, just credible). I'd prefer SVG to VML but the VML dll is there on 86% of the world's desktops and doesn't require a plugin, so it is useful. It isn't robust and it isn't enough. I do wish MS would finish it and make an SVG app out of it. (At least make sure the samples in the tutorials WORK!!) But for basic hypertextable vector diagrams, it works. It simply sux when you start trying to scale it, make intelligent boxes, etc. And so the feature creep begins.... But back to the program: a) Simplicity isn't always. b) Sometimes we really do have to let it get out of control before we know what to control. c) We must learn to know a good thing when we see it and let it thrive if it can. d) Leadership makes a big difference where the quality of the team varies uncontrollably. Unfortunately, we became enamored of the fame game and the standards game was the way to get fame. Maybe it is better that two or three different implementations fight for awhile BEFORE we write a standard, but definitely, let two or three specs fight it out. That actually is what the submission process provides for, so it is possible that some process adjustments (blind submissions, blind reviews, multiple review teams, etc.) would help, things aren't that bad at the W3C, and we are whining but learning. <aside>One pet project for the semantic web would be an app that aggregates 'lessons learned' or the 'debate by topic' from these lists. Alan G., that is what semantic aggegators do. The fact of it being a list or a blog is a red herring.</aside> XML worked because we already knew what was necessary in the main, and it came down to thrashing on important details, but little invention. Leadership was critical and we had it. When I see the "Tim Bray or Jon Bosak or whoever 'invented XML'" I turn red, but I always transform that into 'lead the effort' and I feel better because that is true and richly deserved. len From: Robin Berjon [mailto:robin.berjon@e...] Bullard, Claude L (Len) wrote: > That and a bit of maturity from the professionals. Maturity? Gee Len, you want us all out of a job or what? :) > How often > do we go into these meetings prepared to skewer a submission > because of the source? By example, wasn't the original > submission for XSD from Microsoft a lot simpler than XSD? > Wasn't the VML submission a lot simpler than SVG? There are a few things about XDR (assuming that's what you mean? the previous one was quite seriously more complex IIRC) that I dislike but overall it's generally better than WXS for sure. Regarding VML, it sure was simple but not only in the positive connotations of the word. I wasn't there at the time but I don't think the SVG WG had anything against Microsoft, in fact VML was pretty much integrated into SVG, just as PGML. The problems that SVG went were pretty much Version One and Space Odyssey. Thankfully the mobile industry is providing the impetus to rationalize all that. > After all, it's fun to travel, see one's name in the trades > and on the covers of the specs, get lecturing gigs, get > to drink with one's heros, and destroy hotel rooms without > having to learn new material. It's always nice to see some great people, and WGs sure have their share of those. But every hotel room looks the same these days so thrashing them gets a bit tired after the third time around.
|
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
|