Week 5 Readings

XML Yea!
Readings:
Introduction to the Extensible Markup Language (XML) by Martin Bryan
A Survey of XML Standards: Part 1 by Uche Ogbuji
Extending Your Markup: an XML Tutorial by Andre Bergholz

Overall this week's readings are helpful but confusing. Because I have no practice (besides a few brief assignments for school) with XML or even HTML, for that matter, I am not sure how much I was able to take from these readings.

Certainly, it is good to learn the theory behind why XML was created and how its use of, (or lack of use of), DTD was decided upon, it still does not help me to actually create a page using XML and see why I am doing what I am doing.
In other words, using XML alongside reading about XML would really serve to cement the information I tried dutifully to absorb in my brain.

It is fascination learning about the different ways that simple symbols and elements can be used to create such a difference in computer language. I'm learning this is true for many aspects of cataloging as well- spaces, slashes, hyphens, etc., are all very important.

The XML standards that have been put into place serve a great purpose. They help to unify everyone on their usage of XML and to ensure that those on the viewer/user end of the webpage are looking at consistent code on every page. ISO standards for XML are enforced and supported by many different webpages and groups. The Ogbuji article lists many of the resources that can be used in figuring out and learning about XML.

I've found the Bergholz article to be most helpful for me: a Non Computer Person. He provides a visual picture through words of what a proper XML page will look like and how XML is different from HTML and SGML/DTD stuff. By addressing specific points like linking and using stylesheets and schema it gives me a broader picture of all the tools that are out there and available for help with XML. And, through the aspect of discovering all the tools that out there, I've learned about the many different usages and needs of/for XML that deserve to be addressed.

Muddiest Points for Week 4.
Metadata is very clear to me, but my notes are a little sketchy on how metadata is used to promote interoperability between systems and things.