xml-dev - RE: Who will maintain SAX?

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

From: David Megginson [mailto:david@megginson.com]

Bullard, Claude L (Len) writes:

 > The question is, given that SAX has received broad support from the
 > vendors, will having it reside at Apache rather than a
 > specification consortium cause them to reconsider it and initiate
 > projects to replace it?  Apache can in some sense, be considered a
 > competitor for footprint if not revenue.

 >>That's a legitimate concern, and it's really my only hesitation about
 >> the Apache Project (other than waiting to see what other XML-Devvers
 >>want).

And that is a legitimate reply.  Given the history, go with the consensus 
of the users because the vendors listen to them.  I think the 
penetration of SAX into the market is such 
that it only makes sense to keep it going and not to have to maintain 
it by business dollars.  That makes Apache ideal.  So, then it becomes 
a question of the maturity of the Apache organization to recognize that this

open source must remain truly open and usable even by people they 
don't like.   Don't know many folks there but I've had some dealings 
with Behlendorf in the early VRML days.  Good man.  Worthy of the 
post.  Giving it to a strongly talented alliance of open source 
developers to maintain sounds like a very good solution.

>>Maybe we need to start The SAX Consortium, with .org Web site, weekly
>>telecons, face-to-face meetings at employer expense (alternating among
>>Europe, Australia, and North America, of course), and a big membership
>>fee so that we can afford to co-sponsor conferences and pay a
>>full-time director.  

I can think of nothing more boring and more dangerous than to 
become Sir Thomas Becket.  Those who yearn for that success are 
welcome to pray with their back to a door with their knees 
on the cold stony floor of standards until the king's men come.

>>Since SAX is already written and deployed, it
>>would be hard for anyone to notice whether we were actually
>>accomplishing anything.

Which makes it ideal for a prayer book.

len
http://www.mp3.com/LenBullard

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