XML Considered Harmful

[Jon Ribbens]

On 2021-09-23, Stefan Ram <ram at zedat.fu-berlin.de> wrote:
>   The real problem with CSV is that there is no CSV.
>
>   This is not a specific data language with a specific
>   specification. Instead it is a vague designation for
>   a plethora of CSV dialects, which usually dot not even
>   have a specification.

Indeed. For example, at least at some points in its history,
Excel has been unable to import CSV written by itself, because
its importer was incompatible with its own exporter.

>   Compare this with XML. XML has a sole specification managed
>   by the W3C.

Other well-defined formats are also available ;-)