Re: [boost] [GSoC] Boost.XML

Subject: Re: [boost] [GSoC] Boost.XML
From: Andrew Sutton (andrew.n.sutton_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-03-22 17:42:38

>
>>>
>> I hope you'll reconsider. I think having a student build another back end
>> or
>> two and work on polishing the interface would make a pretty good summer
>> project.
>>
>>
>
> Hmm, that does indeed sound like a good idea. How can we phrase that to be
> productive, though ?
>
> What I would certainly support (and mentor) is a project where another XML
> "backend" is provided next to libxml2, and by doing this helping us make
> sure the (prospective) boost.xml API is indeed robust enough for such a
> switch (similar to boost.mpi, perhaps).
>

I think that Apache's xerces would make a good second such target. MSXML
would probably be a better option. Expat... Maybe.

I think that the project depends on the interface that you want to expose.
I'd like to see a uniform method for opening XML files (preparing them to be
parsed?), opening buffers for parsing, saving files?, etc. I'm guessing that
a SAX-based interface wouldn't be too hard. I can't imagine that SAX
providers don't expose wildly different APIs.

How does this sound ? Is there any interest in this ? Such an endeavor may
> also help rebut some of the arguments against the current approach, and thus
> help move us further towards an acceptable and official solution.
>

Well, I'm interested :) I think designing by the committee is the wrong way
to go these libraries (XML, BigInt, etc.). I say wrap up the stuff that's
out there and figure out where the problems come as we go. Nothing's ever
perfect the first time you do it, and this isn't one of those times where it
needs to be.

Andrew Sutton
andrew.n.sutton_at_[hidden]