xml-dev - RE: Recommended Simple XML Tools

["Bullard, Claude L (Len)" <clbullar@ingr.com>]

To start the fight, it is difficult to answer the question 
about what the best editor is because depending on the 
application language (the XML grammar) requirements, 
you get a different answer.  For example, regardless 
of XML, WYSIWYG editing of

1.  A text document
2.  A 2D graphic 
3.  A 3D graphic
4.  Any animation of any or all of the above

can vary dramatically in the requirements for 
an effective user interface.   Trying to 
combine these requirements into a single 
editor for an integrated multimedia presentation 
is daunting.  Throw into the mix, a persistence 
requirement which means you might have a database 
of some kind (another strange attractor) and this 
is even more daunting.  Throw into that mix different 
abstract object models for the implementation and 
reliability can become a low value statistic.

It ain't just 38784 any more.  The hyper + multi 
aspects when combined create for a very complicated 
set of editing requirements.  For example, if I 
just need to do one, I might choose an editor 
like SoftQuad's XMetal and that works.  If I have 
to do it all, I might need a copy of MS Visual Studio 
and a few other third party pieces.

You may have to sort these requirements out for 
your customer and spec a customized system depending 
on a good editor for each application grammar used. 
Note that "best of breed" loos better on paper 
than it is in reality.  It can be the single most 
expensive purchase and maintenance approach.  XML 
does not change that.

And this is where XML consultants make money.

Len Bullard
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~cbullard/lensongs.ram

Ekam sat.h, Vipraah bahudhaa vadanti.
Daamyata. Datta. Dayadhvam.h


-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Price [mailto:scottprice@customercentrix.com]

To limit the scope, my primary interest is with simpler tools such as
editors.