[uf-discuss] Microformats vs XML

[Phil Haack]

Well XML isn't really supported by all browsers.  If I markup some data
like:

<calendar xmlns="http://example.org/myformat/">
	<date>1/23/2005</date>
	<event>Blah</event>
</calendar>

A browser can't by default render that as it could if that was (x)html
markup.  That's one benefit of Microformats is that it is designed for
humans first, unlike XML languages.

Where the redundancy comes in is in the form of XML feeds such as RSS and
ATOM.  These type of feeds are separate from your main content (i.e. your
website) but they contain duplicate content from your website.

I guess what I'm looking for is discussion on why would one choose
Microformats over XML languages or any other popular means of embedding
data.

Perhaps I should look at how Microformats contrast with Dublin Core/RDF.

My article discusses the principles and benefits of Microformats, but I
haven't had a really strong discussion of why not use XML or RDF as well as
the weaknesses of Microformats.

Thanks for the feedback!

Phil


-----Original Message-----
From: microformats-discuss-bounces at microformats.org
[mailto:microformats-discuss-bounces at microformats.org] On Behalf Of Steven
Livingstone
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 10:53 PM
To: microformats-discuss at microformats.org
Subject: [uf-discuss] Microformats vs XML 

I'm not wholly convinced they compete to be honest.

Xml is very easily authored as well, is supported by all browsers i believe,
as well as most applications now - not sure where the redundancy comes from
- you use what you want.

Xml is far better supported in terms of toolset and validation. It also has
powerful technologies around it and i find it hard to know what i would use
Microformats over Xml - i'd always go with Xml - unless i was embedding
certain data within an XHTML document, but that's because there is now
support for Microformats, not because Xml wouln't do it (remembering that
XHTML and co. are Xml in any case).

Just to be clear, the "Xml communities" have been creating standards for a
number of years and there has been literally hundreds of effors and many
standards are in use today - commercial and non-commercial.

I'd say the cooo thing about Microformats is they are a look at something in
a new way (not replacing anything as such). If anything it competes perhaps
against Dublin Core/RDF when embedded in XHTML documents, however, i do
believe Microformats are something entirly new (maybe an argument agsinst
Smart Tags and so on could be made).

Regards,
Steven

----
Steven Livingstone
http://stevenR2.com

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Phil Haack" <haacked at gmail.com>
Reply-To: Microformats Discuss <microformats-discuss at microformats.org>
Date:  Wed, 26 Apr 2006 17:35:25 -0700

>I am writing an article for an online development magazine on Microformats
>and I'm looking for some good online discussions on the benefits of
>Microformats over XML.
>
>So far I have:
>
>Reduced Redundancy (ex. RSS)
>Browser Support for Microformats since it builds on HTML.
>Ease of authorship
>
>Are there any others I am missing? Is there a good discussion you could
>point me to? I searched and didn't find a whole lot.  I may be using the
>wrong search terms. ;)
>
>Phil
>
>_______________________________________________
>microformats-discuss mailing list
>microformats-discuss at microformats.org
>http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
>
 
 
                   
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