Re: [OT] Switching to Linux (was: Microsoft takes on ACT)

["Marin David Condic" <dont.bother.mcondic.auntie.spam@[acm.org>]

I have not looked at this extensively, but there are a couple of things that
might apply. XUL is a XML based markup language that aims at describing user
interfaces. I think XForms is something similar - but I don't think these
are highly solidified yet.

The basic idea here would be to have *some* (TBD) XML based markup language
that described the GUI. (Note that GtkAda does this) When the GUI is
interacted with, data could be returned to the application in some XML-based
format. (I think Bob Leif sees a strong correlation between the kinds of
data descriptions possible in XML and Ada so it would be fairly
straightforward to line up data coming out of XML and into Ada structures.
But I wouldn't want to presume to speak for Bob - read his Ada Letters
article.)

So it would be possible to envision an  Ada GUI building scenario that had
XML for the markup of the GUI (enabling the possible use of all sorts of
off-the-shelf tools) and XML for the transfer of data between the GUI engine
and the Ada application. This would give you platform independent GUI
capabilities and the possibility of having applications easily operate on a
client/server model. (The GUI-driving engine need not be on the same
platform as the back-end Ada application - they just need to transfer XML
between each other.)

Its an interesting idea but it would be a lot of work to pull it all
together.

MDC
--
Marin David Condic
Senior Software Engineer
Pace Micro Technology Americas    www.pacemicro.com
Enabling the digital revolution
e-Mail:    marin.condic@pacemicro.com


"chris.danx" <spamoff.danx@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:pUcJ8.1671$D3.149718@news8-gui.server.ntli.net...
>
> Can you provide some details of XML guis or your thoughts? (or are they a
> secret, incase someone rips off your ideas?)  This has popped up once or
> twice here in the past, but there hasn't been much debate or indeed
provided
> information on the marrying of XML and a GUI.
>
>