XML
To all,
As a postscript to my post on ActiveX, calling conventions, structures, and
namespace, I would like to recommend something for consideration by all.
If structures are to be considered, the most important structure map for the
next five to ten years is going to be XML, otherwise known as the latest
guise for self-identifying data. I suspect that almost every form of data that
we now work with will be mapped into an XML compatible form during that
time span. It is almost inconceivable that XML will be limited to data being
passed over the internet. Any concept that powerful and flexible will
take over. In short order, most data in most programs will be XML mapped
and therefore directly available to the internet when necessary. The only
things left out of this will be legacy stuff too painful to convert and data
deliberately concealed from internet access.
For those of you who favor ActiveX, MS is using XML and http to re-implement
DCOM. Of course, being MS, they have already implemented a
non-standards compliant driver site for XML interchange and the XML
implementation in IE is not fully standards compliant either. Wander why
even MS advocates tend to read the fine print on contracts...now you know.
To make a long story short, I recommend strongly that our authors keep
XML in mind when providing structures.
Everett L.(Rett) Williams
rett at gvtc.com
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