Re: [xml-dev] XHTML 2 Working Group won't be renewed?

[Michael Ludwig <mlu@as-guides.com>]

Andrew Welch schrieb:
> 2009/7/9 Michael Ludwig <mlu@as-guides.com>:
>>
>> Putting the xmlns in the DTD is a very good way of keeping the
>> markup clean.
>
> Heh, I think that is one of the worst things you can do...

If there's a DTD anyway, nothing wrong with putting the xmlns in.

> Defaulting anything in the DTD is bad idea (imho) but defaulting
> xmlns is the pinnacle of annoyance!  The markup isn't "clean",
> it's not complete for anyone looking at it.

I have a different view. The DTD is built into XML and not an add-on
such as XSD or XInclude. Understanding the DTD is essential to
understanding XML. So who's aware of the obscure namespace issue
should be aware of the DTD feature of supplementing the document
with default values. It's like assuming as a given a child's ability
to ride a bicycle but not assuming it can walk.

Michael Ludwig