Imperfect XML: Rants, Raves, Tips, and Tricks ... from an Insider

David Megginson. 2005. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Addison-Wesley. [ISBN 0-13-145349-1. 229 pages, including index. $39.99 USD (softcover).]

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If you are looking for a better how-to-use-this-tool guide for XML, Imperfect XML: Rants, raves, tips, and tricks ... from an insider is not the book for you. However, if you are a technical lead or project manager who has, among other responsibilities, architectural decisions to make and if you are considering using XML, this is a must read.

The author, David Megginson, makes this point clearly at the beginning. Megginson, who has been a consultant in markup languages for 10 years, grants immediately that XML is a technical success because it is cleaner and easier to implement than other markup languages

However, he immediately challenges whether it is, in itself, a "social success." While not disputing the obvious technical advantages, Megginson expresses concern that XML has been oversold in that it has not made the social inroads that other technologies, such as PTP file transfer or even cell phones, have. In other words, "What's in it for the user?"

On this double-edged premise, Megginson builds a holistic case for (or for not) blending XML technology (and sometimes other technologies) into an overall integrated solution for particular technical problems. In simple terms, he implores potential users not to look at XML as the proverbial "be-all and end-all" solution.

Part 1 explores these values in detail, comprehensively looking at myriad standards associated with XML, as well as problems associated with each standard group and the integration of multiple standards in a single setting.

Part 2 delves into this core functionality of XML. Megginson offers numerous meaningful code examples based on real projects, including some in which XML did not work as well as hoped. Chapter 3, in particular, will be of interest to technical communicators as the author explores in detail the usage of XML and corresponding pitfalls for documentation projects.

Part 3 asks as many questions as it answers. On one hand, it reiterates what many authors have written--XML provides for intelligent searches of document and data content at higher levels than any other option. But the author also explores traps encountered when an XML entity integrates into the greater cyberworld from its development environment. Further, he dedicates an entire chapter to XML performance issues, suggesting good workarounds.

The author is not an XML naysayer. On the contrary, he seems very supportive of the technology when it is well planned and appropriately implemented. For him, the hope of XML becoming a real long-term technical solution with positive social implications (that is, successful XML projects) rides on continuous replication of this formula.

For this reason, Imperfect XML is a must read before project design begins!

MARK HANIGAN has 25 years' experience as a technical writer, instructional designer, trainer, speaker, and project manager. He has his own consulting company. On the Write Track. He has served in various STC roles at chapter and Society levels, including president in 2000-2001. He was elected an STC fellow in 2005.