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Tim Bray On The Origin Of XML

Posted by Zonk on from the makes-feed-users-happy dept.

gManZboy writes "Queue just posted an interview with XML co-inventor Tim Bray (currently at Sun Microsystems). Interestingly enough the interviewer is none other than database pioneer Jim Gray (currently at Microsoft). Among other things, in their discussion Tim reveals where the idea for XML actually came from: Tim's work on the OED at Waterloo."

2 of 218 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The essence of XML... by CondeZer0 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    "XML is like violence: If it doesn't solve your problem, you aren't using enough of it."

    Yes, forgot to mention that one, it's one of my recent additions to my quotes database; do you know the author?

    --
    "When in doubt, use brute force." Ken Thompson
  2. Re:Intra-vendor XML is (usually) stupid by CondeZer0 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    How much bullshit, XML is not a "standard data format", it's an "standard for the (very lousy and almost completely useless) 'definition' of data formats". An XML file without documentation is as useless as a big binary BLOB; some day you should check the XML MS word generates, and I have seen much worse from other proprietary XML tools.

    UTF-8 is a real standard data format, infinitely easier to parse and read than XML, and I got the best tool set to work with it just under /bin

    So, when will you be adding the -X option to gnu/grep so it understands XML? No, wait, it will be --parse-XML-files-and-be-slower-than-g++, because you, like all GNU fools, can't live without verbosity.

    If you excuse me while I wait I will go back to work in a XML-free system.

    --
    "When in doubt, use brute force." Ken Thompson