RE: [xml-dev] Anti-rush, Anti-complexity, pro-XML rant (was RE: [xml-dev] XQuery and DTD/Schema?)

["Manos Batsis" <m.batsis@bsnet.gr>]

> From: Sean McGrath [mailto:sean.mcgrath@propylon.com] 

>The only other possibility - which
> is worse - it will be so complex that the only way to make it 
> work is get
> all your tools from one supplier.

Sadly, I agree. Theoretically, one should be able to utilize XML
technologies using tools from various sources but practically, XML
development is mostly divided in platform-camps: .NET, Java, etc.

Much of the complexity presented as de facto is, of course, pure
marketing tactics. Developers are getting used in 'easy ways' to perform
complex tasks that shouldn't be that complex in the first place. Each
vendor presents and handles this complexity differently. Ironically
enough, one can say that "serious" XML development concludes in vendor
locks.

Now, before people start accusing my ignorance of the real complexities
behind their systems and the problems they solve. The truth is, we
create needs and problems to feed ourselves while solving them. This is
valid whether you are an IT manager or shoe salesman and includes
standards/platform/software development in general (the whole
technology_production_line...). XML is just the latest buzz, lifting the
weight of our abuse.


> Also they bend XML out of shape to the point 
> where I for one,
> hardly recognize it any more.

Yes, with development and learning costs going sky-high for no real
reason. Moreover, XML is often either used against the wrong problem, or
badly used against the right problem. Developers are either
pseudo_evangelists that present XML in a way none understands, or
ignorant (on the subject) people that see it as another trendy toy they
must deal with (by throwing it in somewhere). At least that's what I can
see in the European market. Many exceptions exist of course; there are
numerous examples of high quality, XML-related software designed and
produced in Europe.

But in the big picture, what I personally see is

a) big vendors pushing their 'partners'/clients to produce solutions
with the "new and improved" way (just like The Tommyknockers ;-)
d) plain people that misunderstand -> misuse and XML technologies,
tending to reproduce the effect by presenting their work like something
it's not

Even standardization is not something you can count on. All we can do is
build things as robust as we can to make our lives easier till the next
big thing.

Manos