Re: [xml-dev] To namespace or not to Namespace ....

[David <dlee@calldei.com>]

I would argue that widely distributed specifications like the XML-Schema 
Language, xslt,xproc  etc are not "typical" examples of XML.
They are one extreme case of XML designed for maximum publication and 
maximum reuse.
Thus I would not infer that because XSD uses namespaces that its "the 
best use for most things".
It might be but I don't see that as a sound argument supporting that 
supposition.


Still loving this discussion, particularly given that I'm "fairly 
informed" on the topic, (not an 'expert' but definitely 'knowledgeable') 
and others of similar experience dont agree on the rationale or the how 
to make the decision.   I havent yet read any *compelling* advise that 
cant be counter-argued equally well.   Given that I havent given exact 
details of what the dataset is, I'm referring more to "how does one 
decide when to use namespaces and when not to" ... not "should my 
particular case use them".  Thats a more useful discussion, IMHO.

Back to Balisage 2009
in the "Best Practices" talk (one of the best !)

"Always use Namespaces"
"Never use Namespaces"

Fascinating.


-------------------------
David A. Lee
dlee@calldei.com
http://www.calldei.com
http://www.xmlsh.org


On 4/8/2010 9:34 AM, Dimitre Novatchev wrote:
> Do have a look at the XML-Shema language. Why are they in a namespace?
> For a very good reason -- if they were non-namespaced how would one
> identify their elements from any other content? Imagine what a mess
> that would be.
>
> Namespace prefixes give "color" to content, making it visible and
> distinguishable.
>
> So, the answer is simple: Namespaces are necessary except for the most
> trivial examples.
>
>
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Dimitre Novatchev
> ---------------------------------------
> Truly great madness cannot be achieved without significant intelligence.
> ---------------------------------------
> To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk
> -------------------------------------
> Never fight an inanimate object
> -------------------------------------
> You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what
> you're doing is work or play
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 3:56 PM, David<dlee@calldei.com>  wrote:
>    
>> I'm embarking on a project to create a schema (or more likely a collection
>> of schema(i?) ) to model a dataset.
>> This data is currently represented in a relational database as
>> semi-normalized in about 20 tables.
>> The underlying data is prety complex, but not in terms of
>> attributes/elements but rather some hidden 'business knowledge' which is
>> implied by
>> fields with coded values and things like shared "string pools".
>>
>> The end result of this schema will be to be able to re-represent this data
>> as XML for mainly internal use, although may be published in some form in
>> the future
>> (only to partners, not the general public).
>>
>> This is one of a handful of content sets that are already in XML or are
>> already translated to XML, its the 'last dog' of enterprise business data to
>> be translated to XML.
>>
>> Up until now we've never used namespaces. We've been blissfully unaffected
>> by not using namespaces.   XQuery and XSLT and pure Java programs have had
>> no problem with having no namespaces.   The data is typically in "silos" and
>> while sometimes referenced together, is not of the "module" sort intended to
>> be embedded in other XML documents, but rather fully standalone data (which
>> may reference each other with loose couplings).
>>
>> I think I know the main reasons to use namespaces, and tons of reasons to
>> not to ...
>> Equally  confused by Balisage's opening talk last year that (pardon the
>> paraphrase)
>> "Best Practices for XML"
>> 1) "Always use Namespaces:"
>> N) "Never use Namespaces" ...
>>
>> So whats a poor XML geek to do ?
>>
>> Any *practical* suggestions ?
>>
>>
>> --
>> -------------------------
>> David A. Lee
>> dlee@calldei.com
>> http://www.calldei.com
>> http://www.xmlsh.org
>>
>>
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>
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