Re: [xml-dev] Reflecting on a decade of XML: Lesson Learned

[rjelliffe <rjelliffe@allette.com.au>]

 On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:22:37 -0500, "Costello, Roger L." 
 <costello@mitre.org> wrote:
> Hi Folks,
>
> In one sentence, what is the single most important lesson that has
> been learned from using XML over the last decade?

 XML's success has not been about data exchange or data modeling but 
 about
 enabling open, standard vocabularies: the rise of consortia and 
 domain-based
 exchange vocabularies(i.e. open standards) requires workable 
 technologies for
 co-operative specification of these vocabularies: the XML
 family has been quite successful at encouraging these open standards 
 efforts
 (better than UML, which is better at 30,000 ft modeling, or JSON,
 which is better for point-to-point browser protocols, for example)
 and has reached a level of maturity and penetration where the XML 
 family's
 strengths and weaknesses are obvious (and where now its limitation 
 grate.)

 And a freebie: what is the future for XML?--

 Big business successfully  and disasterously hijacked XML in the last 
 decade
 through the preposterous XML Schemas, and as big business progressively 
 tries
 to push back against open standards (e.g., by favouring their own APIs,
 market-dominating gadgets and "curated" systems), they will not support
 attempts to develop/evolve the XML family in ways that help open 
 standards
 and collaboration: they will push exchange methods which have no 
 schemas
 and rely on tools or printouts/graphics. This hijacking involves 
 primarily
 the exclusion of consumers, so that standards are set by cabals of 
 vendors,
 secondarily the exclusion of non-enterprisey requirements, thirdly the
 rise of fait acccompli standards, and fourthly the move away from 
 schema
 languages that fit into test-driven development/programming-by-contract
 approaches.

 Cheers
 Rick Jelliffe