XML in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Developing Record-Like XML Formats

Despite the mature status of most of XML’s core technologies, XML application development is only now being recognized as a distinct discipline. Many architects and XML developers are attempting to apply existing design methodologies (like UML) and design patterns to the problem of constructing markup languages, but a widely accepted design process for creating XML applications still does not exist.

Tip

The term “XML application” is often used in XML contexts to describe an XML vocabulary for a particular domain rather than the software used to process it. This may seem a little strange to developers who are used to creating software applications, but it makes sense if you think about integrating a software application with an XML application, for instance.

XML applications can range in scope from a proprietary vocabulary used to store a single computer program’s configuration settings to an industry-wide standard for storing consumer loan applications. Although the specifics and sometimes the sequence will vary, the basic steps involved in creating a new XML application are as follows:

1. Determine the requirements of the application.

2. Look for existing applications that might meet those requirements.

3. Choose a validation model.

4. Decide on a namespace structure.

5. Plan for expansion.

6. Consider the impact of the design on application developers.

7. Determine how old and new versions of the application will coexist.

The following sections explore each of these steps in ...