RE: Which parser to use

[Leigh Dodds <ldodds@ingenta.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Featherstone [mailto:R.Featherstone@uea.ac.uk]
> Sent: 09 July 2001 15:38
> To: xml-dev@lists.xml.org
> Subject: Re:Which parser to use
[...]
> I'm new to working with XML and want to manipulate docs with Java.  Which
> is the best parser to use JAXP, Xerces, XML4J JDOM or another.
[...]

Hi Richard,

To be clear:

XML4J is a parser. Although still actively maintained by IBM, the code
now forms part of the Apache Xerces project. Sun followed a similar
path and donated their ProjectX parser to Apache as well.

JDOM is a Java API for manipulating XML document structures, and
is one alternative to the W3C DOM API.

JAXP is a Sun specification that basically certifies a several other
APIs as 'suitable' for use by Java developers (basically SAX and DOM),
as well as including code to mask the differences between working
with different parsers. It also include TRAX which is an API for working
with XSLT processors.

Personally I tend to use Xerces as my parser of preference (not based
on any particular reasons, I've just used it for some time without
problems),
but via the JAXP interfaces so that I can switch parser later if I need to.

So perhaps the answer you're looking for is: develop your Java code
to the JAXP specification and then you've got some leeway to alter parsers
(and XSLT processors) at your leisure.

HtH.

L.


--
Leigh Dodds, Systems Architect       | "Pluralitas non est ponenda
http://weblogs.userland.com/eclectic |    sine necessitate"
http://www.xml.com/pub/xmldeviant    |     -- William of Ockham