[Definition] Red herring: something that misleads or distracts from the relevant or important issue.
The first thing that I talk about in my DFDL tutorial is that there are a huge number of data formats (CSV, iCalendar, vCard, etc.) and DFDL is all about describing data formats. I've come to the belief that focusing on "data formats" is a red herring. I believe this is the correct focus: Nearly every software program inputs and processes data: [cid:[email protected]] DFDL is about creating descriptions of data. DFDL processors are about using the descriptions to parse the data and then making the parsed data available in a useful form. Notice there is no mention of "data formats". Do you agree that focusing on data formats is a red herring? Do you agree that DFDL is about describing data? Do you agree that DFDL processors is about using the descriptions to parse the data and then making the parsed data available in a useful form? It just occurred to me that I am making an implicit assertion: data and data formats are different. I believe that data formats is a subset of data: [cid:[email protected]] I think of data formats as a format that has been standardized, either by a standards organization (W3C, ISO, IETF, etc.) or by a corporation. Data, on the other hand, is any format: single-time-use formats, quickly cobbled together formats, 1-1 data exchange formats between a small group, and also standardized formats. Do you agree that data is a broader, more general concept than data formats? Do you agree that, with regard to DFDL, the focus should be on data, not on data formats? /Roger
