Re: [xml-dev] The year is 2027, and we need to examine archived XMLdocum

[Rick Marshall <rjm@zenucom.com>]

Actually, the majority of information is in a network multiverse. Any 
view will normally resolve to a tree view (probably because that's how 
most of nature, including our brains appears to work).

This multi-network reality is what makes relational systems work so well 
- you can change your view easily - and it remains the principal 
weakness of xml from a data perspective.

The xml strength is the distant network model that is built into it 
through the hyperlink structure.

All this will be important as we build new models for the next 20 years.

Rick

Mukul Gandhi wrote:
> I think this is a very interesting topic, and I am pleased to read the
> discussions so far in this thread.
>
> Some of my opinions are below..
>
> You want us to think about the usage of XML in 2027. Today it's 2007.
> So it's (just) 20 years from now you want us to think about XML. I
> think, XML will surely be very popular in 2027. If you think of COBOL
> or the Relational model. These are very old technologies. They are
> still used a lot today. So I think is the case with XML. I think, the
> success of any technology is determined by it's strong theoretical
> foundation, and the strong business case it supports. XML certainly
> has these characteristics.
>
> Think of representing information (or say, data). Information (or the
> complexity) is essentially hierarchic (or you may argue in some other
> form like, graph). But majority of the information is hierarchical.
> And XML beautifully maps to hierarchic nature of information. And it's
> not binary (and also self describing), which makes it usable easily,
> and exchanged between heterogeneous systems easily.
>
> Seeing a solid foundation which XML has, I think it will exist for a
> long long time..
>
> On 9/10/07, Costello, Roger L. <costello@mitre.org> wrote:
>   
>> Ken North wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> One of the leading financial institutions in New York adopted XML
>>>       
>> about 7 years
>>     
>>> ago because they need to archive stock and trading information for as
>>>       
>> long as
>>     
>>> 20 years. They'd had problems with obsolete media and file formats,
>>> such as WordPerfect 5.1.
>>>       
>> As always, very interesting information Ken.
>>
>> Suppose the year is 2027. XML stopped being used years earlier, in
>> favor of another format. The financial institution wants to examine its
>> data archives (XML documents) from 2007. What capabilities must the
>> financial institution have to read the archives?
>>
>> I think the only capability that the financial institution will require
>> is the ability to interpret Unicode or ASCII, correct? Having an XML
>> parser will not be required, correct?
>>
>> /Roger
>>     
>
>
>