[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message]

Build Rich Complexity from a Small Set of Well-Defined MarkupCombinators

  • From: "Costello, Roger L." <costello@mitre.org>
  • To: "xml-dev@lists.xml.org" <xml-dev@lists.xml.org>
  • Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:16:23 -0400

Build Rich Complexity from a Small Set of Well-Defined MarkupCombinators
Hi Folks,

Consider the digits 0 - 9. They can be combined to create an infinite number of integral numbers, such as 256 or 14 or 190023156001200021345. Each digit has a well-defined meaning and the rules for combining the digits are well-defined.

Rich complexity flows from a small set of digit combinators.

Next, consider XML Schema. It is a markup language consisting of a small set of well-defined markup combinators:

    1.  Schema
    2.  Element
    3.  Attribute
    4.  Simple Type
    5.  Complex Type
    6.  Attribute Group
    7.  Element Group

The language has well-defined mechanisms for combining the markup combinators:

    1.  Schemas are combined using import, include, and redefine
    2.  Elements are combined using sequence, choice, or all
    3.  Complex types with simple content are extended or restricted
    4.  Complex types with complex content are extended or restricted

An infinite variety of schemas can be created using the 7 markup combinators and the 4 combining mechanisms.

Interestingly, XML Schemas is considered to be a complicated language. Perhaps 7 markup combinators are too many in a markup language?

When creating an XML markup language consider following this approach:

    1.  Create a small set of well-defined markup combinators. From experience with XML Schemas, 7 or less markup combinators might be adequate.
    2.  Create well-defined mechanisms for combining the markup combinators. Again, from experience with XML Schemas, 4 or less combining mechanisms might be adequate.

From that will flow complexity of great richness.

Comments?

/Roger


[Date Prev] | [Thread Prev] | [Thread Next] | [Date Next] -- [Date Index] | [Thread Index]


PURCHASE STYLUS STUDIO ONLINE TODAY!

Purchasing Stylus Studio from our online shop is Easy, Secure and Value Priced!

Buy Stylus Studio Now

Download The World's Best XML IDE!

Accelerate XML development with our award-winning XML IDE - Download a free trial today!

Don't miss another message! Subscribe to this list today.
Email
First Name
Last Name
Company
Subscribe in XML format
RSS 2.0
Atom 0.3
 

Stylus Studio has published XML-DEV in RSS and ATOM formats, enabling users to easily subcribe to the list from their preferred news reader application.


Stylus Studio Sponsored Links are added links designed to provide related and additional information to the visitors of this website. they were not included by the author in the initial post. To view the content without the Sponsor Links please click here.

Site Map | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Trademarks
Free Stylus Studio XML Training:
W3C Member
Stylus Studio® and DataDirect XQuery ™are products from DataDirect Technologies, is a registered trademark of Progress Software Corporation, in the U.S. and other countries. © 2004-2013 All Rights Reserved.