Re: [oswg-dis] Re: Open Document Environment (ODE)

[Deb Richardson <deb linuxcare com>]

Matthew Wilson wrote:

> I agree that having one format is essential to the success of any
> documentation system.  However, as it seems that sgml-tools is no longer
> being supported (I tried every version on my clean slackware box, and
> *none* of them would compile/install/work) Perhaps we should try to move
> away from SGML/DocBook, and go with XML.  Although XML is still in it's
> infancy, I believe that it would be an excellent platform to develop
> documentation with.

There is another set of tools available called "DocBook Tools".  These
make use of the jade dsssl engine, and are avaiable through
http://sourceware.cygnus.com/docbook-tools/ .  These are the tools we
use for the OSWG documentation conversion scripts, and they work quite
well.  The default output formats could use some work, but we've got to
walk before we can run ;>

> XML is an open standard, heavily supported by many in the computer
> industry.  Even the next generation of web browsers will be able to read
> it natively to some degree.  It's also highly structured, designed from
> the beginning to be processed into other forms.  All we would need to do
> is pick/create a suitable DTD.

We can pick the DocBook DTD -- it supports XML as well as SGML.
 
> As for DocBook/Linuxdoc in sgml, since the current bulk of LDP
> documentation is in sgml, perhaps we would need either a conversion effort
> (automated?) or a grandfathering system.

What we would need is a smallish but very dedicated "strike force" of
volunteers who would work to do the conversion from LinuxDoc to
DocBook.  Some of the conversion can be automated, but DocBook is far
more verbose and powerful than LinuxDoc.  As such, it really does
require a human touch.
 
It could be done...it's just a matter of finding a group of people who
know DocBook and who are willing to dedicate a reasonable amount of time
to working on the conversions.  I, for one, would be willing to help
where I can.  I know that there are other people out there who would be
willing to help as well.  It's just a matter of organizing the team and
just getting it done.

- deb

-- 
Deb Richardson, Executive Editor
Linuxcare, Inc.
tel: 613.562.9723, fax: 613.562.9304
deb@linuxcare.com, http://www.linuxcare.com

Linuxcare.  At the Centre of Linux.