Re: [xml-dev] XML as salvage yard (was RE: James Clark: XML versusthe We

[Greg Hunt <greg@firmansyah.com>]

A new stack?  And then, how does that relate to HTML5?  Which appears
to be the next new stack (even if the target area is rather
different)... so perhaps its the new new stack thats being discussed
here?  Will what is being discussed here drive changes in HTML5?  What
do you suppose the vendors will choose to support?

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 4:25 AM, Kurt Cagle <kurt.cagle@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dimitre,
> I'm not sure about that. What I find significant here is that for the first
> time there is a new meme here that I haven't heard really discussed much
> before:
> Is it time to create a new stack?
> Nobody is arguing for a new extension of XML, an XML 2.0. Been there, done
> that, got the tschotskes. Nobody is defending XML as being superior to JSON,
> only that they accomplish different needs, and that we need to decide
> whether or not its worth breaking new ground. I'd argue the same issues are
> occurring in the Semantic Web world, where XML/RDF has been increasingly
> relegated to an unwieldy alternative format.
> In a way its a lot like the unification of forces in physics - you can't
> realize that electricity and magnetism are manifestations of the same force
> until you have several years of empirical data and a large enough base, you
> can't realize that electro-magnetism and the weak force are themselves
> unified at higher levels and that the weak force and the strong force are
> simply different symmetry breakings of a unified model. We're facing that
> now with data structures, and the realization that JSON and XML are
> different manifestations of a larger need to provide a compelling
> unification, and that the form of either by themselves are not as important
> as the fact that at some stage we can recognize that there is a need to see
> both as part of a more comprehensive data modeling model. This is one of the
> reasons I think the NoSQL movement is now gaining steam.
> The issue, as you put it, is what to do about it. SGML really isn't the
> answer - it solved certain early document needs, but was ill-suited as a
> format for data modeling. XML proved that you could strip out a great deal
> of SGML and actually end up with a more flexible, functional language. The
> drivers for unification are there; we're seeing more and more bridges
> between formats, which to me usually precedes a realization that we've
> reached a higher level of abstraction and are trying to patch it together
> with lower level tools - eventually you have to embrace that abstraction and
> find a way to more properly express it to get combinatorial explosions under
> control.
> Perhaps Unification should be the focus of an IWC conference, or Balisage or
> one of the other markup symposia. Don't call it XML, call it something like
> DON - Document Object Notation. Throw out all initial assumptions about
> specific object notations and focus on infosets and modeling mechanisms for
> infosets. Recognize that each of the three domains - JSON, XML, RDF - are
> all valid in their need to accomplish specific tasks, but question whether
> there is some underlying consistent system that can encapsulate all this
> information easily and readily. Keep the working group small and focused,
> and put the thought leaders for each camp as at least some of the
> representatives. It may be that there is no benefit to such unification,
> that we're better with three standards rather than one, but its worth making
> the effort to at least try to find common ground.
> Kurt Cagle
> XML Architect
> Lockheed / US National Archives ERA Project
>
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 4, 2010 at 11:39 AM, Dimitre Novatchev <dnovatchev@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> I am watching this and other threads with sadness.
>>
>> Why?
>>
>> Because we have often been presented with ideas, some of them good, to
>> improve XML.
>>
>> And nothing happened...
>>
>> This discussion is no different than the previous ones -- in the
>> outcome that didn't and will not happen.
>>
>> What I want to see is not a complete, grandiose plan then a Big Bang
>> to produce it -- the Big Bang may have happened only once and nobody
>> has actually seen it.
>>
>> What I want to see is *starting* with the implementation of small
>> steps at a time, of just one first step --  beyond talking.
>>
>> The critical missing part in this discussion is how to materialize the
>> good ideas that have surfaced.
>>
>> Is it possible to have individual(s) that would implement series of
>> incremental improvements? Improvements that would quickly gain
>> critical mass of users to become de-facto standards?
>>
>> Because if not, all the talks are stirring deep waters with a teaspoon.
>>
>>
>> Here is my challenge:
>>
>> As a start, take one obvious improvement, implement it for everybody.
>>
>> Then go on with the next one.
>>
>> But just stop only talking.
>>
>> The big problem is that something more than talking *has* to start.
>>
>> To be specific, as a first step produce XML-N1 where the default
>> namespace is abolished. Something not so difficult and challenging,
>> that eliminates 40% of the questions we see in forums. So much time
>> will be saved, satisfaction increased, trust and acceptance gained.
>> *Now*, this is something.
>>
>> Then face in turn XML-N2 --> XML-N3 -->... XML-Nk...
>>
>> Most important, stop talking and get started, then never stop while
>> successful. Keep moving.
>>
>>
>> --
>> 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
>>
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>
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