Re: Personal reply to Edd Dumbill's XML Hack Article wrt W3C XML Schema

[ht@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Henry S. Thompson)]

James Clark <jjc@jclark.com> writes:

> "Henry S. Thompson" wrote:
> 
> > It's also true, in my opinion and
> > that of many in the community, that XML Schema as it stands will be an
> > incredibly valuable move forward: not perfect, but the right first
> > step.  I'm looking forward to seeing it deployed, to using it, and to
> > working to integrate all we've learned from the experience and from
> > external input as we move on to start work on the next version.
> 
> It is clear to me XML Schema as it stands *is* useful.  However, it's
> also clear to me that there is the potential to create a schema language
> (or perhaps family of languages) for XML that is significantly better
> that XML Schema as it stands and that satisfies the requirements placed
> on XML Schema. I am content to have XML Schema as it stands now, so long
> as that doesn't prevent the XML community getting something better in
> the future.  In particular,  I hope that:
> 
> (a) overly tight coupling between other W3C specs and XML Schema 1.0
> will be avoided

I hope so.

> (b) future versions of XML Schema will not be constrained to be 100%
> compatible with XML Schema 1.0; the requirement for any future version
> should be that it be possible automatically to translate XML Schema 1.0
> into that future version

Speaking personally, I don't believe any such requirement has been
stated, and for a range of reasons, including the one below, I agree
it should not be.

> This will allow the potential for the creation of a better schema
> language to be realized to the maximum extent possible in future
> versions of XML Schema.

Hear, hear!

ht
-- 
  Henry S. Thompson, HCRC Language Technology Group, University of Edinburgh
          W3C Fellow 1999--2001, part-time member of W3C Team
     2 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9LW, SCOTLAND -- (44) 131 650-4440
	    Fax: (44) 131 650-4587, e-mail: ht@cogsci.ed.ac.uk
		     URL: http://www.ltg.ed.ac.uk/~ht/