Re: "Separation of Content from Presentation"

[Tue, 20 Aug 2002 13:49:09 EDT] Svgdeveloper@aol.com:
>Since the XML 1.0 Rec states, as I mentioned earlier, "The Extensible Markup 
>Language (XML) is a subset of SGML that is completely described in this 
>document. Its goal is to enable generic SGML to be served, received, and 
>processed on the Web in the way that is now possible with HTML." one can see 
>why they carefully steer away from the term "generic" XML.
>
>It seems to me much healthier to know if Tim, Kynn and others actually hold 
>that statement in the XML 1.0 REC (2nd Edition) to be false. In other words 
>not only are the goal posts being moved but the goals too. :)

[The referenced text can be found here:
     http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/REC-xml-20001006
in the "Abstract" which begins the document.  Another section:
    http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/REC-xml-20001006#sec-origin-goals
defines the design goals of XML in a bit more detail.]

It may be that the designers of an automobile intend that it should be
able to achieve any speed up to 145 mph while remaining mechanically
and aerodynamically stable and controllable on all common road surfaces.
This would not mean that they deny there may be good reasons to avoid
driving at such speeds on many --- or even most --- actual roads: just
that they do not expect their design to be one of those reasons.

I think too much is being read into the quoted text.  The intent would
seem to be to define the standards necessary to make the service of a
generic form of SGML technically and practically feasible, not to assert
that doing so must necessarily be well-advised in all cases and contexts.
-- 
Randall Joseph Fellmy aka Randy@Coises.com

Received on Tuesday, 20 August 2002 18:05:12 UTC