Understanding XML in 15 Seconds (or Less!)
by M. David Peterson
Todd Ditchendorf's Blog � Blog Archive � XML Power
Q. I've tried reading the (XML | SGML | XSL | XPATH | DSSSL | ...)
specification, but it doesn't make any sense! There's too
much jargon!
A. Specification authors deliberately obfuscate the text of
ISO and W3C standards to ensure that normal people
(e.g., Perl programmers) can't use the technology without
assistance from the so-called "experts" who designed the
specs.
Fortunately, there is a handy translation table you can use:
--------------------------------------------------
ISO/W3C terminology Common name
--------------------------------------------------
attribute tag
attribute value tag
attribute value literal tag
attribute value specification tag
character reference tag
comment tag
comment declaration tag
declaration tag
document type declaration tag
document type definition tag
element tag
element type tag
element type name tag
entity tag
entity reference tag
general entity tag
generic identifier tag
literal tag
numeric character reference tag
parameter entity tag
parameter literal tag
processing instruction tag
tag command
--------------------------------------------------
With the help of this table, even Visual Basic programmers
should have no trouble deciphering ISO prose.
ABSOLUTELY CLASSIC!!!! :D
Thanks for the laugh, Todd!
7 Comments
len 2006-11-29 04:45:18 |
That's too funny. Darkly true as well. |
M. David Peterson 2006-11-29 23:41:17 |
@len,
|
Bob DuCharme 2006-11-30 06:00:19 |
I suggest that Todd review the XML FAQ, particularly http://xml.silmaril.ie/developers/terminology/. |
M. David Peterson 2006-11-30 06:33:37 |
@Bob,
|
Bob DuCharme 2006-11-30 08:25:42 |
Sorry, I didn't recognize it from the c.t.s not the SGML FAQ (which I've linked to for years; I particularly love the HyTime/lightbulb joke). I thought it was some cranky VB coder. |
M. David Peterson 2006-11-30 08:39:07 |
@Bob,
|
Alex 2007-06-12 02:09:44 |
LOL! Thanks, you made my day! |