XML vs. HTML

[Karen G. Schneider]

Chris wrote, "the explicit question *is*: Is XML inevitable? But the
implicit question is: Do I (random library webmaster) have to learn XML?
<IMG SRC="everest.jpg" ALT="XML Learning Curve">"

Again, the point I am trying to make is that XML will not take off until it
has a tool that makes it easy for the generalist or near-generalist to
apply to many publishing scenarios--but that I anticipate this tool
appearing, or, in another scenario, "child of XML" appearing (anyone
remember graphical gopher?  maybe that's XML... but it was still
foreshadowed the Web as we know it). The people who were enthusiastic about
the Web during the era of the CERN line-mode browser were only half-right.
However, their enthusiasm was not unbridled, but prescient, nor were they
uncautious, but farsighted.  The library profession overall, on the other
hand, has been a late adopter of networked services, and that has not been
to its credit.  I still recall a librarian saying to me--and this was only
a couple of years ago--that he was waiting for this Internet thing to pass.
_________________________________________________________
Karen G. Schneider |  kgs at bluehighways.com http://www.bluehighways.com
Author: A Practical Guide to Internet Filters, Neal Schuman, 1997 
Director, Garfield Library of Brunswick, NY  garfield at crisny.org
Garfield on the Web: http://www.crisny.org/not-for-profit/garfield
Information is hard work
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