RE: [xml-dev] "Introducing MicroXML, Part 1: Explore the basicprinciples

[David Lee <dlee@calldei.com>]

>  John Sez ...

> Right.  But unless you are usiung a complete XML stack (XQuery/XSLT and
> XML database), eventually you have to bind your XML to some third-
> generation
> language, and that's where full XML is a big pain.  The Really Simple Data
> Model is really easy to work with.
> 

Interesting I didn't consider Data Binding.  If one big use case is Data Binding I think MicroXML 
needs improvement.  It lacks the basic "duck typing" that JSON has.
A self-describing data binding markup needs (IMHO) to atleast identify common atomic values like
String , Integer, Double, Date [JSON lacks this] , Boolean , Null [? not so useful but JSON has it].

If its going to take XSD to add this to MicroXML I think well be in trouble.
And remember we need these not only for leaf elements but attributes and mixed text.

Alternatively .... Everything is String , Element (Map + List of Element or String) , Map of String/String pairs.


Secondly, unlike JSON, Maps (attributes) are limited to String values.

So .. if I read this right, if simple Data  Binding is an important use case we need a lot more work to do to both add typing - even duck typing like JSON,  AND maybe simplify things more like getting rid of attributes entirely except possibly for typing, and figuring out a way for Element content to represent either/or (but not both at once)  arrays and maps.


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