developerWorks: Create a maintainable extensible XML format

IBM developerWorks just released the article I wrote together with Sally Slack on creating your own XML format.

This is the abstract:

Create a maintainable extensible XML format

Reduce change when you design XML formats agile enough to incorporate new requirements

XML is a communication format for exchanging structured documents and data. Too often, an XML format is chosen arbitrarily and on the fly during development, without much planning or design. Design the right XML format up front, and you can meet the needs of everyone involved in the communication. If you don't, you're in for a long journey of format revisions. Learn how to design a format less likely to require change and agile enough to incorporate new requirements with the simple addition of new extensions instead of full changes.

The main points explained in the post:

• Stop treating XML Schemas as generated technicalities
• Use multiple namespaces and mix them
• Mind the details
• Think the XML way
• Plan extensibility up front

I hope the article helps! Read more over here:

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/x-extensxml.html