RE: [docbook-apps] future of DocBook XML Schema (XSD)?

[Jan Driesen <Jan.Driesen@brepols.net>]

Hello,


I have been using the XSD wherever possible. Mostly XSD is more convenient in a .NET Framework world.
- For validation both DTD and XSD are natively supported by the framework, but Relax NG is not.
- Many tools for .NET-framework development have better (or only) support for XSD, not for DTD.
- XSD based logic can be traversed in .NET languages (which I once used for an autocomplete syntax editor for another XML standard). I have not found a way to do so for DTD's. For Relax NG there is no native support (AFAIK).

On the other side:
- I understand it may be very uncommon to use DocBook in a .NET world (and vice versa).
- I would not lose any production implementation if XSD-support would cease to exist.
- I may very well be the only one actually using it, making it unreasonable to keep supporting it.

Nevertheless, as Bob asked for it, I just want to raise my hand to confirm that I do use it.


Jan Driesen


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Stayton [mailto:bobs@sagehill.net] 
Sent: dinsdag 18 oktober 2016 20:51
To: docbook-apps@lists.oasis-open.org; docbook@lists.oasis-open.org
Subject: [docbook-apps] future of DocBook XML Schema (XSD)?

The DocBook Technical Committee is considering dropping the XML Schema version of DocBook in a future version 6.  We would like to hear from any members of the DocBook community who would be affected by this change.

Let me be clear that this change is not on the horizon, but part of our long term planning.  The DocBook TC takes great care in maintaining backwards compatibility on point releases because we know how much the DocBook community relies on stable sources.  When DocBook rolls to a new major version number, we treat that as an opportunity to introduce changes that are not backwards compatible.  The change from 4 to 5 was such.  If we foresee such changes coming, we give the DocBook community very advanced notice to prepare for them.

We will continue to maintain the DocBook standard in RelaxNG with Schematron rules, and will continue to generate a compatible DTD.

However, the process of maintaining the XSD version of DocBook is proving burdensome because it cannot be completely generated by a conversion program, and requires manual tweaking.  Because we are not sure if anyone is actually using the XSD version, we are wondering if this is worth the effort.  If you are using it, or have tools that depend on XSD, please let us know.

You can reply directly to me if you don't want to discuss it on the mailing list.

--
Bob Stayton
Sagehill Enterprises
bobs@sagehill.net

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