This panel covered a lot of ground regarding XML. From a survey of the audience by the moderator, Thomas Myer of Triple Dog Dare Media, the vast majority of the audience was currently using XML in their projects. Interestingly, more audience members were consuming XML than creating it. Here are some of the notes from the panel:
– Your background is what you bring to XML.
– XML is not a magic fix-up.
– People have a very localized view of XML. Once you have consensus, the tools help get you there quicker.
– RSS started as syndicating articles and now it is being used for diverse uses such as monitoring server logs.
– When working with XML, start with planning an information model and start working with it as you proceed along.
– Developing the information model
- Develop content units – steps, pre-requisites, headers, descriptions, etc.; much of this info will eventually become tags
- Develop metadata – file structure, etc.
– XML still appears somewhat arcane to most people.
– XML usage is very similar to designing a relational database.
– Some developers have embedded XML within another XML tag (not recommended).
– Some “evil” uses of XML
- using XML in a database like fashion (relational context)
- XML generated by Microsoft Word – doesn’t translate well to real world context
– the future of XML is more rich RSS
– RSS is currently using a brute force approach
