RE: Advantage of XML based GUI? (was Re: Ada-inspired OS/Language)

["Robert C. Leif" <rleif@rleif.com>]

XML forms, XFORMS, can be used to communicate with a programming
language. XFORMS includes data validation, which can include range
checking. The actual XML documents can be Ada protected types, which are
controlled by Ada tasking. The graphical representation can be handled
by either XSL or SVG. What is needed is an Ada implementation of a
permitted subset of XFORMS. This would be sufficient to bootstrap
applications. The trick is to create XML schema with as close to a one
to one correspondence to Ada as possible. The actual implementation of
XFORMS could be based on existing Ada GUI packages.

The commercial virtue of this approach is that one could build a
portable GUI that is based on browsers with the addition of Ada
plug-ins. Basing the GUI on the browser eliminates the problem of
creating CRT and printer device drivers. Thus, one can have Ada software
that will run on Windows and the Mac, as well as run on a native Ada
operating system. 
Although I doubt that it is possible to create an Ada revolution in
software, I believe that it is possible to create an Ada evolution.
Bob Leif

-----Original Message-----
From: comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org
[mailto:comp.lang.ada-admin@ada.eu.org] On Behalf Of Preben Randhol
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 3:27 AM
To: comp.lang.ada@ada.eu.org
Subject: Advantage of XML based GUI? (was Re: Ada-inspired OS/Language)

On Sun, 8 Sep 2002 15:14:13 -0700, Robert C. Leif wrote:
> If Nick Roberts et al. wish to generate some real interest and the
> ability to raise money, call it XMLOS. The GUI would be XML and the
> insides pure Ada. This is essentially what I suggested in my paper in
> the last Ada Letters.

What is the advantage of having the GUI as XML? I don't get it. Wouldn't
you need a more dynamic language than Ada then?

Preben