[jdom-interest] Embedding HTML in XML

[Jason Hunter]

> i can't get that to work, though, can i? i wondered about putting the text
> with the <i> in a CDATA section or something, but will jdom even let me do
> that (i.e., ever not turn <> into &lt;&gt;)?

You can customize the XMLOutputter to output your special element
contents raw and unescaped.  I think you could write a subclass that
overrode printElement() and did something special for your element but
called super.printElement() otherwise.  Again, you'll have to be
vigilant that the HTML inclusion doesn't make your XML document
malformed.

-jh-

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Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 09:13:55 -0700
From: Josh Rehman <jrehman at pacbell.net>
Subject: RE: [jdom-interest] Disruptive technologies
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I did not understand Simon's article. It appears to be a rather high level
speculative article about the implications of XML. I believe that a
restatement of his thesis, without jargon ('disruptive technology'?!), would
be, "XML implies wider changes to internet technologies than most would
believe." How is this thesis supported?

There are 2 sections, one on XMLs impact on current technology, and a
shorter speculative section.

Maybe its my fault that I don't really understand what "XML demands
"adaptive reuse" of existing infrastructure" means. Even with the examples
that follow (which I assume are meant to illustrate what the term "adaptive
reuse" means), it doesn't become clear. Again, its probably my fault since I
am not up on many of the protocol initiatives that Simon mentions (XML-RPC,
SOAP, new MIME identifiers!).

For better or for worse, I have a hard time understanding solutions to
problems that I haven't had, can't anticipate, and don't have a good way to
visualize. And I'm a programmer! I can only imagine how well these kinds of
arguments would go over with management staff, when talking about
anticipating the reimplimention of core infrastructure (Scenario: 'OK Bob,
XML is disruptive. Plan on replacing any software that even knows about the
existance of HTTP, SMTP, MIME, or URIs. I know, its a big headache but you
might as well bite the bullet. Why should you do this? Ha, I just told you!
XML is a disruptive technology!')

Don't get me wrong, I love abstraction as a tool to make concrete problems
more tenable. But Simon's article was a bit too far in the clouds for me.
But it just seemed a restatment of what every programmer knows: data
structures are the core of any software system. Change these strucutures,
and the system will drastically change. XML represents an oppurtunity to
recast common data structures into a homogenous format, which improves data
exchange mechanisms between disparate systems. Because of this, distributed
systems will change, simplify, and become more common. Why all the drama?