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XML isn't used for its readability, it's used because it's a good standard format for exchanging data between different pieces of software. I work in the web sh
by mtts 18y ago
XML isn't used for its readability, it's used because it's a good standard format for exchanging data between different pieces of software. I work in the web shop business and for us standardization on XML is a god send: We no longer do have to maintain (or write!) parsers for product data supplied in all sorts of different insane CSV-like formats. Instead we can simply throw a well designed off the shelf XML parser at the data and when a data file is corrupt, it saves us from having to spend hours on the phone with a partner company trying to figure out whether it's their data, their output software or our own parser that is broken. With XML it's either valid XML or it's not.
- ajross 18y agoYour point is that XML is good because it is standard. That is valid. The OP link, however, was pointing out that while this is true, it's also true that XML is a very bad choice for that metadata format. Look at things like JSON or YAML for saner, simpler and more readable alternatives. We ended up with XML because it looked like HTML at a time where "web stuff" was all the rage, not because of its inherent value.