[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: Desktop Entry Standard / XML
From:       Cristian Tibirna <ctibirna () total ! net>
Date:       1999-05-16 16:40:45
[Download RAW message or body]


I think I wanted to insist more (but I failed) on the need of
supplementary work which a rc file format switch will demand both from the
developers of that new format and from all the immaginable developers of
KDE apps.

 
On Sat, 15 May 1999, Alex Zepeda wrote:

> On Sat, 15 May 1999, Cristian Tibirna wrote:
> > XML disadvantages:
> > - less human readable
> 
> You assume that the current format is considered really readable by
> everyone.  Add enough tabs and/or spaces and XML can be made quite
> readable.

You implicitely consider yet more work at making it readable, apart from
the work needed for the switch.

> > - incumbs a high transition price when switching from the current format .
> > - backwards compatibility of apps would have huge costs
> 
> If a similar interface was provided, and a script to automagically convert
> the old format to XML, would switching really be that much of a pain?

The script would be another piece of code to debug and maintain.

ATTN: I don't try to slam the idea of switching to XML. I just try to put
on an even level the elements which will help us to decide if the
switching would be worth the work.

Until now I only heard that a switch wouldn't be so hard. I didn't hear,
though, any compelling advantage of this switch.

Cristian

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]