The parts of XML that are enduring and the parts that are crumblingaway

["Costello, Roger L." <costello@mitre.org>]

Liam wrote:

> XML as a writing system, as a documentary system, 
> or something very like it, will likely endure for quite 
> some time. XML as infrastructure, XML Web Services, 
> that's already crumbling away.

Those are fantastic statements Liam. Would you (or anybody) elaborate on them please?

What does this mean: 

	XML as a writing system, as a documentary system

English is a writing system. German is a writing system. What does it mean that XML is a writing system? Do you mean the use of XML to format human-readable documents? For example, the use XML to format a book or an article?

What does this mean:

	XML as infrastructure, XML Web Services

Roads and buildings are infrastructure. What does it mean that XML has been used as infrastructure? Do you mean the use of the XML format for exchanging data with REST web services? That is crumbling? (It doesn't appear to be crumbling from my perspective, but my view of the world is narrow) What is the trend in infrastructure, in web services? To exchange JSON documents?

What parts of XML are enduring and what parts are crumbling away?

/Roger