[XML-SIG] Functional interface to XML?

[uche.ogbuji@fourthought.com]

> > We
> > primarily use it to emit HTML or transformed (non-FO) XML for now, but we
> > could provide a SAX interface to make it more useful.
> 
> If you are just emitting HTML wouldn't it be easier and more efficient to
> use a "reverse SAX" output engine instead of building and walking a DOM. I
> believe XSL is designed so that you can output everything as you generate
> it.

Probably.  I'll be the first to admit that we've been working in "quickest way 
from A to B" mode, and haven't seriously enough incorporated performance 
concerns to our approach.  This might limit 4SXL's general usefulness until we 
optimize it.  I'll cache this among the growing list of "excellent Prescod 
suggestions" in our design process.

> > Well, I'm still not sure I get your meaning, but the pattern-matching code is
> > pretty well de-coupled from the tree-visiting portion.  This is to allow
> > easier updates as the XSL WG modifies their spec.  I'm not sure how usable the
> > API would be when exposed outside 4XSL, but we can certainly keep such
> > potential use in mind.

<snip/>

> What I am *really* interested in is answer Cee's de Groot's question
> (which is also mine) of an API that *Python programmers* can use that acts
> like XSL or DSSSL but uses Python syntax. Think of it this way: if XSL
> does 90% of what you want then you want to just extend it with Python. If
> XSL only does 20% of what you want then you want those XSL features in
> Python without the XSL stylesheet syntax.

<example.snipped/>

Aah, the light dawns.  And I guess this one also goes into the list of useful 
suggestions.  I like the idea a lot, and I can already forsee many useful 
applications.  The main problem will be how much effort into modifying the 
current design would be required.

-- 
Uche Ogbuji
FourThought LLC, IT Consultants
uche.ogbuji@fourthought.com	(970)481-0805
Software engineering, project management, Intranets and Extranets
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