I’ve been working in my spare time on the idea of converting dwarf debugging information into XML so that I can format it as XHTML using a stylesheet, and so I can check it using a Schema of some sort. When I started fiddling today I assumed that using a DTD was the way to go, that what one does with XML, no? Well after banging my head against the DTD format for a while, and looking for help on (our friend) the internet, I stumbled across a more general description of different ways to write XML schemas alternatives. Notice the lower case schema there. One of the several ways is called simply “XML Schema”, which is an alternative to DTD and DSD etc. Don’t get confused yet, you just started reading.

I had to kick myself in the head again tonight. Every time I get really stumped on trying to find good information on the internet, I end up realizing that everything I wanted was already there in Wikipedia. In the really confusing situations where I’m jumping in the deep end of the pool, all I really need to start me out is a two page summary of the state of the art. something to put all the technology jargon into context for me. But I still haven’t learned to look on Wikipedia first. *kick* *ouch*

God, lists look ugly in the hacked theme I’m using. I should fix them up one day. Anyway, here is good info on the different ways to formally describe your XML so that you can check it, and make sure it doesn’t have bugs.

From oldest and klunkiest to newest and hottest, the different languages are: 1) DTD 2) “XML Schema” 3) DSD 2.0

Note: Clayton Wheeler also pointed me at Relax NG, which is much more elegant.