On Dec 18, 4:12 am, "Roy Hann" <specia...@processed.almost.meat>
wrote:

Or use XML-complient structure:

<comma_separated_doc>
a,b,c,d
e,f,g,h
...
</comma_separated_doc>

It is much funnier read on the dailywtf.com, but I'm unable to recover
the reference:-)

I'd divide the answer into two. For the original use SGML/XML and
related markup languages (like HTML) were meant for, i.e. markup of
running text compatible with plain text editors, they still hold quite a
lot of value.

The match for data is much weaker. The only real value I can find in XML
there is that currently we don't really have a commonly accepted and
implemented format in which to serialize datasets. At least serializing
in-transit ones into a metaformat that all the other people use gives us
some minimal sharing of tools, like parsers, browsers and APIs.
Sometimes we even get to the point of serializing to a proper, shared,
concrete format (say vCal or RSS), so that the compatibility runs
deeper.

But of course that is not how most people use XML; they use it for
everything. Then Bad Things Happen: using XML implies inserting an extra
layer of complexity into your system. Its textual encoding entails
bloat. The rich hierarchical structure which serves text so well invites
all of the usual data modelling mistakes. People worry too much about
the metaformat to lay the proper groundwork for the actual formats. Data
ends up being locked up inside a serialization, when we'd really like
random access. Tying applications to a serialization, i.e. a physical
data format, makes data independence impossible to achieve. And of
course the rest of the big picture, like data language design,
transactional guarantees and integrity still haven't been solved, so
that everybody ends up cooking their own and more often than not getting
it horribly wrong. The list goes on.

XML has its uses. Unfortunately the hype causes people to misapply it.

I read the comments at the end.  At least two commentators said "smells like
xxx"  (where xxx is something rde you might do to your nose).  I don't want
to mention the actual name for fear of conjuring up an evil spirit.