Re: Scripting in Gnome

[Danilo Segan <danilo gnome org>]

jamie <jamiemcc blueyonder co uk> написа:

> On Tue, 2004-02-03 at 16:31, Maciej Stachowiak wrote:
>> 
>> So call me thick, but how is XML useful for expressing syntax and
>> semantics of an arbitrary language? I work on a web browser and a
>> JavaScript implementation, so don't be afraid to use big words and
>> stuff.
>
> XML as opposed to what? A propriety text format? An EBNF grammar format?

I suppose you're going to come up with XML scheme (or DTD) that will
be as proprietary as any other ASCII-based format with proper
documentation.

> XML is useful , not just because its in fashion but also because there
> are a lot of tools for working with xml documents. Im writing it in
> Python and it has extensive support for XML, so why not use its xml
> facilities especially as it will help speed up development?

Those are the advantages of storing data in a file using XML syntax,
but my understanding is that storing instructions (what a definition
of a language basically is) is not very well suited for it.

Your insisting on using XML seems a bit unconvincing -- storing data
is here the least of all problems I would say, and you've got so much
more problems to resolve before you come to that.  If it's easier for
you to prototype with XML as opposed to something else, that's not
something to be brought up as a point for or against your idea.

So, my humble request would be to drop that XML propaganda, and keep
on thinking of "interoperation" and "shared interfaces" (sounds a lot
like simplified CORBA, which is probably welcome at any time, so
I don't consider your ideas bad or not worth it).

You may also stick with some keywords such as "simple language
definition" or "straightforward interfacing", but XML is really not
very relevant here.  And you keep coming up with the XML as the main
thing, which it clearly isn't.

I believe this is the point Maciej was trying to make here, but I
don't represent him in court, so he may curse at me if I'm wrong.

Cheers,
Danilo