Is XML eternal or ephemeral?

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

Hi Folks,

Many algorithms are eternal knowledge. For example, 100 years from now the quicksort algorithm will be as relevant then as it is today and as it was 50 years ago. 

Many data structures are eternal knowledge. For example, 100 years from now the stack, queue, and tree data structures will be as relevant then as they are today and as they were 50 years ago.

Algorithms and data structures are knowledge that doesn't expire.

Conversely, "the unavoidable ephemeral knowledge one accumulates during their career comes in many forms" such as "a vogue framework or programming paradigm that falls out of favor in a couple of years." [1]

Where is XML in the spectrum of eternal to ephemeral? Are there aspects of XML that are more on the eternal side of the spectrum and aspects of XML that are more on the ephemeral side of the spectrum? Perhaps the tree structure of XML documents is an aspect of XML that is eternal. Perhaps the DOCTYPE is an aspect of XML that is ephemeral. What do you think? 

Is XML eternal or ephemeral?

/Roger

[1] Here is a neat blog that discusses eternal versus ephemeral knowledge. The title of the blog is: "The rate of obsolescence of knowledge in Software Engineering" [https://daltyboy11.github.io/obsolescence-of-knowledge-in-software-engineering/]