Don't Invent XML Languages ·
The
X in XML stands for "Extensible"; one big selling point is that you can
invent your own XML languages to help you solve your own problems. But
I've become convinced, over the last couple of years, that you
shouldn't. Unless you really have to. This piece explains why. Here's a radical idea: don't even think of making your own language until
you're sure that you can't do the job using one of
the Big Five:
XHTML, DocBook, ODF, UBL, and Atom.