Re: xsl compact syntax using xquery

On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 12:00:05PM -0400, Michael Sokolov scripsit:
[snip]
> I'm idly contemplating trying to hatch a proof-of-concept of some
> sort.  I'm counting on the wisdom of this list to deter me from
> wasting my time on a terrible idea.  On the other hand perhaps it is
> a great idea and somebody else will be inspired to implement it,
> saving me the trouble :) What do you think?

Expressing XSLT in its data structure is odd, but I think inspired.  It
makes the requirement to comprehend XML as a structure of nodes
explicit.  In practical terms, it means that XSLT can, let's say
comfortably, generate XSLT, and this is very valuable; you can, for
example, generate transforms on the basis of compact inputs derived from
specific data.

I really don't see any positive value in a syntax that would make either
of those things more difficult.  I also don't see the XSLT syntax as
problematic.  (This may be one of those things like XML validation; many
people encounter XML validation as that thing that tells them they're
doing it wrong, rather than a helpful set of constraints that renders
your results predictable.)

-- Graydon