XML Schema

I have been a computer programmer for over 30 years.  I am now studying web
design and XML, DTD's, namespaces and Schemas.  My first impression of this
is gobblede gook.  The terms used are a bunch of mumble jumble.  If you
really want this to be accepted, the FIRST thing to do is simplify names in
common English.  Do not attempt to constantly come up with new words to
define terms.

I can tell you that if I had a choice of using this or something which is
defined in ordinary English words, I would dump XML in a heartbeat.  This is
not only my opinion but others in our class.   Most are very bright people
who do not come from a computer background and this is overwhelming to most
of them.

Over the years, computer software has evolved so that operating systems are
overly complex and unreliable, as well as applications software.  Now it
would seem that the languages have also evolved so that they are overly
complex as well.  There used to be an acronym KISS, which stood for keep it
simple stupid.  That credo has fallen to the wayside.  In an attempt to
build diversification, software and languages have grown to unwielding
giants.  You need larger and larger manuals to keep track of all the syntax
and possible variations.  It won't be long before computers will be required
to program computers to save us from ourselves.

Otherwise, it it will require too many man hours to maintain software that
no one can understand except a few.

Jerry Driscoll

Received on Friday, 15 November 2002 09:58:45 UTC