A language by any other name
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I was just having a discussion with someone about web development. We had a difference in opinion in regards to the XML "language" because I don't consider XML to be a "language". Anyone else have an opinion? (That's a loaded question for this group)
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I was just having a discussion with someone about web development. We had a difference in opinion in regards to the XML "language" because I don't consider XML to be a "language". Anyone else have an opinion? (That's a loaded question for this group)
The definition of a computer language, to me anyhow, is "a defined set of tokens that tell a computer how to operate." The key words are "defined set". XSL is a language; it uses defined keywords to do things. XML is data. Plain and simple. XML is no more a language than any other database is. Is Access a language? No, it's a storage format. Same with XML. Jamie Nordmeyer Portland, Oregon, USA
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I was just having a discussion with someone about web development. We had a difference in opinion in regards to the XML "language" because I don't consider XML to be a "language". Anyone else have an opinion? (That's a loaded question for this group)
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Without entering into the debate ( I don't know enough about XML to comment ), the fact that it has language in the name is an indication of the authors intent, not if they achieved it. Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.
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Without entering into the debate ( I don't know enough about XML to comment ), the fact that it has language in the name is an indication of the authors intent, not if they achieved it. Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.
Hm... althought correct, it doesn't introduce any value into this discussion. Having "Language" in the name expresses an intent, so knowing what a language is (in the computer field you should probably assume that language means a "formal language") all is left to do is to find a specification and see if it fits into the definition of (formal) language. So, having language in the name is not an asnswer, but it is a clue, which is what I was giving.
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I was just having a discussion with someone about web development. We had a difference in opinion in regards to the XML "language" because I don't consider XML to be a "language". Anyone else have an opinion? (That's a loaded question for this group)
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XML is a language, but it isn't a programming language. The same applies to HTML and SGML.
I am with markkuk here. Much like English is a language so is XML. It describes data rather than tells what to do with it. regards, Paul Watson Cape Town, South Africa e: paulmwatson@email.com w: vergen.org
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XML is a language, but it isn't a programming language. The same applies to HTML and SGML.
XML is a language, but it isn't a programming language. The same applies to HTML and SGML Correct French and German are also languages, but are not programming languages either Regardz Colin Davies :)
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XML is a language, but it isn't a programming language. The same applies to HTML and SGML.
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Hm... althought correct, it doesn't introduce any value into this discussion. Having "Language" in the name expresses an intent, so knowing what a language is (in the computer field you should probably assume that language means a "formal language") all is left to do is to find a specification and see if it fits into the definition of (formal) language. So, having language in the name is not an asnswer, but it is a clue, which is what I was giving.
So we're agreed that neither your comments or mine have added anything to the discussion, because the fact that the word language is used in the name indicates intent, but not if that goal was met. Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.
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XML is a language, but it isn't a programming language. The same applies to HTML and SGML.
I agree, good point there markkuk. XML is a language for defining data structures, not a programming language.
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XML is a meta language, not a language. From XML.com: "XML specifies neither semantics nor a tag set. In fact XML is really a meta-language for describing markup languages." cheers, Chris Maunder (CodeProject)
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So we're agreed that neither your comments or mine have added anything to the discussion, because the fact that the word language is used in the name indicates intent, but not if that goal was met. Christian As I learn the innermost secrets of the around me, they reward me in many ways to keep quiet. Men with pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought Jewellery.
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XML is a meta language, not a language. From XML.com: "XML specifies neither semantics nor a tag set. In fact XML is really a meta-language for describing markup languages." cheers, Chris Maunder (CodeProject)
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Hm... althought correct, it doesn't introduce any value into this discussion. Having "Language" in the name expresses an intent, so knowing what a language is (in the computer field you should probably assume that language means a "formal language") all is left to do is to find a specification and see if it fits into the definition of (formal) language. So, having language in the name is not an asnswer, but it is a clue, which is what I was giving.
George I am not sure whether you are brave or daft because that was Christian you just replied to... Whichever it is, better get some armour on there boyo... :-D "In ccccooorrrnneeerrr one we have the braaaaaavvvve Georrrrrrggggeeee... and innnnn corner twooo the Mr. Fantastical Skeptic Cccchhrriissttiiaaann..." ;P I had better add to the discussion though, hadn't I? :-D regards, Paul Watson Cape Town, South Africa e: paulmwatson@email.com w: vergen.org
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What would be a difference between the meta- and language? Is the meta-language a subset of the formal languages(like a square is a rectangle)? Then if meta-language is a formal language, then if xml is meta-language then xml is also a formal language...
Interesting this: meta A prefix meaning one level of description higher. If X is some concept then meta-X is data about, or processes operating on, X. For example, a metasyntax is syntax for specifying syntax, metalanguage is a language used to discuss language, meta-data is data about data, and meta-reasoning is reasoning about reasoning. LOL, come to think about our very discussions could be considered meta. Our discussions on how this forum should work and does work could be considered meta-forum discussions, surely? XML is a meta-language as Chris points out. It is still a language though and along with your square/rectangle example you could say XML is to data as Shape is to Rectangle, a description. Not a subset but a superset. *groans* this is way too early in the morning for me... regards, Paul Watson Cape Town, South Africa e: paulmwatson@email.com w: vergen.org
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George I am not sure whether you are brave or daft because that was Christian you just replied to... Whichever it is, better get some armour on there boyo... :-D "In ccccooorrrnneeerrr one we have the braaaaaavvvve Georrrrrrggggeeee... and innnnn corner twooo the Mr. Fantastical Skeptic Cccchhrriissttiiaaann..." ;P I had better add to the discussion though, hadn't I? :-D regards, Paul Watson Cape Town, South Africa e: paulmwatson@email.com w: vergen.org
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Well, XML is a Language, but not a programming language. I have a harder one, what you thing about SQL? Is it a programming language? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Memory leaks is the price we pay \0 01234567890123456789012345678901234
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Interesting this: meta A prefix meaning one level of description higher. If X is some concept then meta-X is data about, or processes operating on, X. For example, a metasyntax is syntax for specifying syntax, metalanguage is a language used to discuss language, meta-data is data about data, and meta-reasoning is reasoning about reasoning. LOL, come to think about our very discussions could be considered meta. Our discussions on how this forum should work and does work could be considered meta-forum discussions, surely? XML is a meta-language as Chris points out. It is still a language though and along with your square/rectangle example you could say XML is to data as Shape is to Rectangle, a description. Not a subset but a superset. *groans* this is way too early in the morning for me... regards, Paul Watson Cape Town, South Africa e: paulmwatson@email.com w: vergen.org
Right. Then again, the intent of XML being a meta-language might does not mean that it actually is a meta-language. Perhaps it turned out to be actual language despite all the efforts? ;) (even thought they were "making" a shape, a rectangle came out) leave alone meta - use the full phase and you get: http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=metalanguage Main Entry: meta·lan·guage (snip) : a language used to talk about language
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Interesting this: meta A prefix meaning one level of description higher. If X is some concept then meta-X is data about, or processes operating on, X. For example, a metasyntax is syntax for specifying syntax, metalanguage is a language used to discuss language, meta-data is data about data, and meta-reasoning is reasoning about reasoning. LOL, come to think about our very discussions could be considered meta. Our discussions on how this forum should work and does work could be considered meta-forum discussions, surely? XML is a meta-language as Chris points out. It is still a language though and along with your square/rectangle example you could say XML is to data as Shape is to Rectangle, a description. Not a subset but a superset. *groans* this is way too early in the morning for me... regards, Paul Watson Cape Town, South Africa e: paulmwatson@email.com w: vergen.org