Hi Gerald,
Thanks for the feedback! I personally feel that this is a difficult but
important issue to get my arms around. As I mentioned in the xaml-talk post
(great idea, BTW!), I think it's important to separate MS-XAML from what I
would call pure XAML.
You said:
XAML is an XML UI language. Thus, XAML is another XUL format. If anyone
nows any better terms for XML UI languages, please let me know.
Hmmm. OK. Then what is MyXaml? Because in reality, MyXaml is just a
generic instantiator, that complies with Petzold's definition of XAML,
roughly: any class supporting a parameterless constructor can be
instantiated, and properties defined in that class can be initialized.
So, MyXaml isn't just an XML UI language. In fact, from my blog posts, you
can see that it can instantiate data tables and other classes. The fact
that I demonstrate it for UI stuff is two reasons: it's visual, and
therefore easily understandable, and it IS a good use of the technology.
But it isn't JUST a UI language.
I'd like to propose that XAML, whose acronym eXtensible Application Markup
Language doesn't contain any reference to UI's, be defined something like
this:
XAML is an XML-based syntax for generically instantiating classes and is
applicable to both UI and non-UI application components.
To answer the questions directly, from my perspective:
Is MyXaml Xaml?
IMO, yes, because complies with Petzold's description of what XAML is.
(to interject another question, is MS-XAML XAML? Answer: No.)
Is MyXaml a XUL format?
IMO, yes, but the UI part of MyXaml is only a subset of the entire concept,
and only because the .NET System.Windows.Forms classes are 90% compliant
with the requirement for parameterless constructors.
Is MyXaml an XML UI language?
Mmmm. I have real problems with the word language. Does language imply
a programming language, or merely a method of expression? I'm assuming
the latter. I would prefer the question to be worded Is MyXaml a
declarative XML UI language?.
The answer, again IMO, is yes, in the sense that the UI is instantiable
using MyXaml. It can also be a data modeling language, for example, as data
tables, data sets, relationships, records, etc., are instantiable also.
(is it instantiable or instantiatable???)
Is the What is XAML? debate a replay of the What is XUL? or What
is XUI? debate?
Most likely, yes. From the posts I've read here, it seems like some people
have a clear understanding of what XUL is. On the other hand, it seems like
other people are saying XAML is just XUL! I disagree with that statement,
and so I thought I'd put my thoughts on the subject in my blog.
Why doesn't Microsoft claim that XAML is a trademark and instead why does
Microsoft state XAML is just a code-name like Avalon or Indigo that
will get ditched for a proper trademark later on such as WinML, for example?
That would be nice, if they changed it to something like WinML, because then
it clearly distinguishes the difference between what I feel is XAML and what
I think of as MS-XAML.
What's your preferred term for XML UI languages?
For a language that is capable of just instantiating the UI components,
XUL seems best, IMO. But what I'm fuzzy about is the differences between
XUL and XUI. Also, whether the X means xml or eXtensible is
confusing, because that varies with the implementation, I would think.
XUL is a subset of MyXaml's XAML implementation, therefore, I think to say
that MyXaml is XUL is accurate but incomplete.
Thoughts? I hope I'm not beating a dead horse about all this. I think it
will help everyone if we can create a visual roadmap of these terms. I
might try drawing something out and see what you think.
And thanks for helping in my continuing education about all of this.
Marc
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