XML Considered Harmful

[Jon Ribbens]

On 2021-09-21, Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper at gmail.com> wrote:
> On the prolog thread, somebody posted a link to:
><https://dirtsimple.org/2004/12/python-is-not-java.html>
>
> One thing that it tangentially says is "XML is not the answer."
>
> I read this page right when I was about to write an XML parser
> to get data into the code for a research project I'm working on.
> It seems to me that XML is the right approach for this sort of
> thing, especially since the data is hierarchical in nature.
>
> Does the advice on that page mean that I should find some other
> way to get data into my programs, or does it refer to some kind
> of misuse/abuse of XML for something that it wasn't designed
> for?
>
> If XML is not the way to package data, what is the recommended
> approach?

I'd agree that you should not use XML unless the data is being supplied
already in XML format or perhaps if there is already a schema defined in
XML for exactly your purpose.

If there is nothing pre-existing to build upon then I'd suggest JSON.

If anyone suggests YAML, then you should just back slowly away while
speaking in a low calm voice until you have reached sufficient safe
distance, then turn and run.