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Re: Parsing XML with anything but

• From: Amelia A Lewis <amyzing@talsever.com>
• To: "xml-dev@lists.xml.org" <xml-dev@lists.xml.org>
• Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 21:39:18 -0500

I should probably avoid this argument. *sigh*

On Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:08:14 -0500, Simon St.Laurent wrote:
> Yes, it's true that writing applications that apply regular 
> expressions or other text processing to "complete" XML can be 
> dangerous.  That doesn't mean that people doing that are stupid or 
> poorly trained, however, and neither does it mean that they haven't 
> tried their local XML toolsets first and found them wanting.

Simon, I'm afraid that I have to differ with you. Anyone who uses 
regular expressions for a grammar that relies extensively on parity is 
either stupid or poorly trained. Sure, you can do text processing (== 
processing of element names, attribute names, attribute values, and 
text node contents (without distinguishing reliably between them)) 
using regular expressions. You can't reliably establish XML structure, 
because the syntax of XML is specified by a grammar that cannot be 
handled by a finite automaton, that is not a regular grammar.

Using regular expressions to handle XML (except in specialized 
circumstances, possibly including "s/Soviet Union/Russian 
Federation/g", but almost certainly not including "s/soviet/russian/gi" 
because the latter (apart from demonstrating a lamentable historical 
illiteracy (speaking as a formally-trained historian of the Soviet 
Union, once upon a time)) is too apt to change attribute or element 
names) is, to follow the pattern of analogy common in recent threads, 
about the equivalent of handing a carpenter framing lumber and screws 
and watching him whip out his ... hammer. A carpenter who does so 
(except in specialized circumstances) is aptly regarded as stupid or 
poorly trained (generically: not competent to handle the problem). More 
to the point, the structure such a carpenter creates is going to 
*fail*, which means it is appropriate for other carpenters to say "that 
ain't right."

Amy!
-- 
Amelia A. Lewis                    amyzing {at} talsever.com
Yankees are compelled by some mysterious force to imitate Southern 
accents and they're so damn dumb they don't know the difference beween
a Tennessee drawl and a Charleston clip.
                -- Rita Mae Brown, "Rubyfruit Jungle"

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Parsing XML with anything but
    • From: Liam R E Quin <liam@w3.org>
  • Re: Parsing XML with anything but
    • From: "Simon St.Laurent" <simonstl@simonstl.com>

• References:
  • Re: Parsing XML with anything but
    • From: Gareth Oakes <goakes@gpslsolutions.com>
  • Re: Parsing XML with anything but
    • From: "Simon St.Laurent" <simonstl@simonstl.com>