Intent of ER-XML

Now that may email is straightened out and the list server is accepting my posts  and the traffic has died down I think some of my questions got lost in the shuffle.

I'd like to start with one question/discussion.

What is the intent of XML-ER.   Obviously were producing a specification.  But a specification for what exactly ?   To me this is not clear at all, and I suspect different people have different opinions.


So I'd like to discuss:   What is the expected purpose/use case of an implementation of XML-ER?

Possible answers ?
 A) XML-ER is a 'Processor'
1) A drop-in replacement for an XML parser.
--> Implies: It must do *everything* an XML parser does (plus the ER stuff)
--> Output: An API ? An abstract data model ? (INFOSET)

2) A pre-processor for an XML parser.
--> Input : "Stuff" (TBD)
--> Output : Well-formed XML - defined as an abstract data model?
--> Implies an XML parser then may be used to fill in the stuff that ER-XML doesn't define,
   For example:  parsing DTDs, external entities etc.

B) Wrong Question XML-ER specs do not define a 'Processor'
3) XML-ER does not define an implementation of anything.  Rather it defines a set of rules for fixing up XML.   It is 'implantation agnostic' in that it doesn't define the full behavior of an processor, but rather defines a set of rules that an implementation of 'something' that wishes to call itself XML-ER compliant must do.   That may or may not be part of an 'XML Processor'.
--> Example: The Namespaces spec doesn't define a 'processor'.


IMHO we need to clarify exactly what the XML-ER specification is intended for before we can make much more progress.

Comments ? Objections ? Am I insane , ignorant, confused, or all 3 ?


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Lee
Lead Engineer
MarkLogic Corporation
dlee@marklogic.com
Phone: +1 650-287-2531
Cell:  +1 812-630-7622
www.marklogic.com<http://www.marklogic.com/>

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