Where XML Goes Astray
Derek Denny-Brown quite possibly knows more about implementing the XML specs than any other human being who has ever lived. Today he gives you an overview of some of the biggest issues which are lurking in the shadows for those who attempt to implement these specs. Reading it gives me flashbacks to many instances over the past years where, after having Derek patiently explain and re-explain, realization dawned. ?If only namespaces had been spec’d a tiny bit differently!?, or ?WTF were they thinking when they did THAT with whitespace??, or ?Egads! Qnames in content are a MESS, I hope nobody EVER uses them!?.
Now, this is not to say that XML is a bad spec. In fact, I think that XML core is one of the best, most implementable specs I’ve ever seen. But it just shows that no spec is perfect, and if you go deep enough, you find all sorts of shadowy corners that you never would have expected. Derek’s post is just the tip of the iceberg, but you’ll find it very interesting.