Re: XSLT programs that blur the distinction between p

Michael Kay wrote this on March 29, 2022:

> we're using operating systems whose security model is
> 50 years out of date. Where there's a strong distinction
> between "programs" and "data" that's unrealistic in
> today's world

Fascinating!

What are the ways that XSLT programs blur the distinction between program and data?

I think there are two ways:

(1) An XSLT program may have some embedded XML that the program uses. That embedded XML is both part of the program and it is data for the program; so it is both program and data. That is definitely blurring the distinction between program and data!

(2) An XSLT program can modify itself at runtime. [Is this possible? Can one part of XSLT program treat another part of the program as data, modify it, and then continue running but with the modified program?]

What other ways do XSLT programs blur the distinction between program and data?

Is there a classic use case for (1)? That is, is there a classic use case for an XSLT program that uses embedded XML data?

Is there a classic use case for (2)?

/Roger

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