Re: Why use PHP? What are the disadvantages?

[Jon Paris <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Apr 20, 2010, at 3:09 PM, web400-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> PCML doesn't even need to exist, IMHO.  It's an overblown,
> overengineered, overcomplicated way to do things.  Simple embedded
signatures would be much more efficient than kludgy, limited, XML  
documents.


Hi Scott - nice to disagree with you for a change!

I'll just comment mostly on the PCML bit as it relates to the original  
thread. On the subject of Open Access I will simply say that I think  
that anything that gets the user base excited and thinking about web  
apps is goodness. And I haven't seen this much excitement in years.

On the PCML issue - First let me say that I dislike PCML intensely -  
like you I think there were better ways to go but the XML love affair  
was in full flight when it was developed. No matter how much I dislike  
it though, it exists and a lot of $ have been spent on it. Given that  
I suspect IBM would be reluctant to invent yet another mechanism for  
the storing of parameter data in the module when they have already  
invested in PCML. As an XML based technology it can easily be  
deciphered by any program on any platform that retrieves it. Heck  
building a web service to call the API to retrieve it would be a no  
brainer.

It already has the ability (although it is not complete) to define  
structures - something they would have to reinvent with any embedded  
binary version. Not saying it couldn't be done - or that it wouldn't  
be preferable. I can just hear the "but we've already got the  
foundations with PCML" arguments in the halls of IBM.


Jon Paris

www.Partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com