[XSL-LIST Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] Re: XSLT Dead?
Karl Stubsjoen wrote:
>So, is XSLT dead? Interesting choice of example. I work daily with XML, XSLT and many other XML related technologies, but if I need a calendar control, I'd investigate my host system and choose what best suits my needs. That way you'd have a prebuild DHTML / JavaScript calendar control for some intranet, a prebuild .NET or ActiveX control for a desktop system and a prebuild paper version for on the wall.
Interesting, again. I've seen a programmer choosing Assembler for writing a Windows GUI app. He needed 4K where I needed 2M. The difference was only that his took 3 months and mine only 2 days. Let alone the maintenance issues. Do not use XSLT when there are other tools that can do the job better. I can write a lexical analyzer for C++ in XSLT, but really, I won't.
I can understand the rather critical attitude of your co-workers. "where ever I can" is a dangerous and often costly choice.
I agree with them: why re-invent something if it is already there? In all but a few situations, precanned solutions will be the most valuable and cost-effective ways, even if you have to leave out some of the very nice options you would've build yourself in your own tool. It is a common misunderstanding with programmers that they think they can build something better or more useful where other companies have spend tens of thousands of man hours before you.
I like XSLT, I really do. But I'd never choose XSLT where an imperative language would make my life easier. Yes, XSLT is "Turing complete" and I can probably make the new tamagotchi generation with it. But "can make" is not a synonym for "should make". Really, choose the best language for the job. Choose XSLT if you have to go from one structured input (XML or CSV or SAP ISU or whatever) to another structured format (HTML, XSL-FO, CSV etc). Don't use it for the things it isn't meant for, you can use your time for building other creative and ground-breaking solutions. Good luck with your colleagues, Cheers, -- Abel Braaksma
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