Re:What If OpenDocument Used SQLite?
by coldtea on Thursday November 02, 2017 @07:48AM
(#15609492)
>It's not about human readability, it's about separating implementation from representation
No, it's not. An sqlite-based document can have as many representations as an XML-based document -- nothing in its implementation prevents this.
>so "readable without any software" is a good test for wether it's "readable with any sfotware"
The OS, filesystem, shell, editor etc needed to read the XML file are still software.
As is the XML parser needed to do anything useful with it in the data realm.
>If your document editor represents documents as a stack of edit-events (for undo/redo or whatever) and you document every nook and cranny of this "document format", standardize it as "binary event-sourced document format, .esd" then your binary spec will be very close to a full description of your document editor. Everyone who wants to use your format now has to reimplement your editor.
You do understand that the XML file can also just be including a stack of edit-events, right?
This is totally orthogonal to the underlying storage (XML or sqlite or whatever).
No, it's not. An sqlite-based document can have as many representations as an XML-based document -- nothing in its implementation prevents this.
>so "readable without any software" is a good test for wether it's "readable with any sfotware"
The OS, filesystem, shell, editor etc needed to read the XML file are still software.
As is the XML parser needed to do anything useful with it in the data realm.
>If your document editor represents documents as a stack of edit-events (for undo/redo or whatever) and you document every nook and cranny of this "document format", standardize it as "binary event-sourced document format, .esd" then your binary spec will be very close to a full description of your document editor. Everyone who wants to use your format now has to reimplement your editor.
You do understand that the XML file can also just be including a stack of edit-events, right?
This is totally orthogonal to the underlying storage (XML or sqlite or whatever).