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2004-05-12Document-Centric Interface Contracts? What??XML.com: Document-Centric .NET [May. 12, 2004] I wanted to pass over this feed topic, but "document-centric" caught me. Taking a look, I was caught by Eric Gropp's opening comment:The principle "program to an interface, not an implementation" helps control the complexity and enhance the flexibility of systems. XML interfaces are a natural extension of this principle that bring a number of new benefits in terms of flexibility, reusability, simplified code, and readiness for enterprise environments.The first lesson for me is that I must review my own breathless prose for meaningless sweeping claims. Here the puzzle for me is how XML interfaces extend that principle, especially considering the nuts-and-bolts level that we immediately dive into. OK, I do that too. Still, I think there are too many things jumbled in here, and there is lots of implementation of something-or-other. So, have we traded getting lost in one set of bits and inessentials (implementations) for the same trap in new cloths? Why is it that this simple example doesn't come across as simply-understandable as a demonstration of the power of interface agreements? It may be a tacit-knowledge trap where I lack the tacit knowledge of the intended audience. If so, that needs to be understood better, at least. To be filed in my mysteries-of-toolcraft folder.
Comments:
Yeah, the intro was pretty heady. I submitted a more practical version, but it didn't make it into the final cut.
There is a lot of stuff piled into the article. My intent was to show .Net developers a number of ways that they could produce and consume XML documents within their applications, without having to fiddle with low-level XML APIs. Your tacit-knowledge trap comment probably correct, and I am still looking for that single all-persuasive paragraph about interface contracts. Thanks for checking the article out. -Eric G. Portland, OR
Eric, I wanted to follow up with you about "looking for that single all-persuasive paragraph about interface contracts." I don't have the answer, but there is an experiment over on Numbering Peano (http://miser-theory.info/astraendo/pn/) that discusses interface contracts and is building toward demonstrating what is accomplished using a simple interface/API declaration.
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The xml.org site seems to be confused about automatic log-ins (and maybe cookies), so I put it into a URL loop when I go to comment on your article!
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