Re: Are PIs useful?

> That is not much of a reason. XML is not SGML, except very
> superficially. 

XML is very much SGML. Every valid XML document is a valid SGML document. 
Anyhow, I don't fully understand why it is relevant. Are you claiming that PIs 
should not be used in XML because XML does not have to be backwards
compatible with SGML and should not be used in application profiles OF
XML because they in turn should not bother being backwards compatible
with SGML?

> HTML is constantly plagued by `backward compatibility' which
> essentially kills all good ideas. Why are some people here so
> masochistic as to willingly create a backwards compatibility problem
> for XML, when there is none?

If being SGML compatible is a "problem" then XML started off with this 
problem before it was called XML. Check the description of this group's 
goals. We have gone through massive pain to uphold the particular goal of
compatibility despite the protestations of members of the group. We've been
over the issues thorougly. The chance of us undoing all of that work at this 
point seems next to nil.

 Paul Prescod

Received on Wednesday, 14 May 1997 15:41:48 UTC