Is your XML green?

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

Hi Folks,

Green computing is the study and practice of environmentally sustainable computing or IT. The efficiency of algorithms has an impact on the amount of computer resources required. Algorithm changes, such as switching from a slow (e.g. linear) search algorithm to a fast (e.g. hashed or indexed) search algorithm can reduce resource usage for a given task from substantial to close to zero. A study by a physicist at Harvard, estimated that the average Google search released 7 grams of carbon dioxide (CO©ü). However, Google disputes this figure, arguing instead that a typical search produces only 0.2 grams of CO©ü [1]

I have seen XML Schemas that are very large, contain many files, are complex, and are tightly intertwined. If I want to reuse a small portion of such schemas, I am forced to download and store the entire set of schema files. Every time I move my schema across the Internet or even across my file system I have to also move all those irrelevant, unused schema files. That results in a lot of wasted computing resources.

Want to help the environment? Stop creating large schemas. Create lightweight, focused schemas and XML instances. Create green XML!

Comments?

/Roger

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_computing