xml-dev - XML: "turning into the modern-day Tower of Babel"

["KenNorth" <KenNorth@email.msn.com>]

Len Bullard wrote:
> Articles like this are to be expected.

Today I read another article  about competing dialects of XML. The author is
Mike Hogan (POET Software).

"XML and Data Integration" (XML-Journal, May/June 2000):
www.xml-journal.com

Excerpts:

"The problem is that many of these DTDs are competing to solve the same
problem. Much like the Tower of Babel, there's been a fragmentation of
dialects of XML - represented by DTDs."

"Some pundits predict a consolidation of XML dialects. The Internet, they
claim, favors universal standards that facilitate interoperability. However,
the nature of mankind and early evidence suggest that we can anticipate an
increased balkanization of XML. As soon as a few companies form a group to
define a standard DTD for their industry, another competing group is
formed."

"Application vendors also play a role in this fragmentation. Companies
benefit in many ways by defining the leading dialect in their market."

"As a result, XML, which many people viewed as the complete solution for
data interchange, is turning into the modern-day Tower of Babel."

The article goes on to discuss transformations and data staging.


================== Ken North =============================
See you at AD2000 London (www.applicationdevelopment.com)
XML DevCon 2000 New York City (www.xmldevcon2000.com)
===========================================================




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