Subj : XML
To   : Bill Birrell
From : Micael Bulow
Date : Sat Jan 04 2003 06:15 am

 BB>     I would find it useful if someone would explain to me why XML
 BB> is needed now after more than a decade running successfully without
 BB> it.

Most important it's a widely used standard. All developers on all platforms can 
handle the incoming data.

 BB>     I do not understand why there would be a problem with a utility
 BB> that produces an XML list from the nodelist.

For example:

Right now there is a huge discussion in another echo about new nodelist 
formats, new flags and how to handle phonenumbers/IP-adresses and various "new" 
elements that is needed in the nodelist.

If the base nodelist where in XML, we could add flags and information very 
easely. It is much less sensitive for changes and addons.

From that new XML nodelist we could then parse a comma-separeted "old style" 
nodelist with the information required for those who still need that format, 
and for the software that needs it.

BUT

We can not do it the other way arround. We would be restricted to the 
limitations of that format. We would need an extra database holding all new 
flags, addresses etc for each node that does not fit into the old format.

Eaven if we manage to twist all little new gismos in to the old format, the day 
when we cant add more information will come very soon. Thats the reason to why 
I think we should use XML as the base format.

You would still get the oldstyle nodelist from your uplink if so required 
though.

//Micke 
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 * Origin: OX12.NET (2:204/710)

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