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 ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by Sleepycat Software Learn developer strategies Cisco, Motorola, Ericsson & Lucent use to deliver higher performing products faster, at low TCO. http://www.sleepycat.com/telcomwpreg.php?From=osdnemail3 _______________________________________________ xul-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/xul-talk