[jsword-devel] Config/XML (Was: SkinLF)

[Joe Walker]

Aleksander Rozman - Andy wrote:

> At 12/29/2003, you wrote:
> 
>> Aleksander Rozman - Andy wrote:
>>
>>> Yeah I have another great question. Why do you use XML files for 
>>> configuration file. There are a lot of ways to configure software and 
>>> instanciating about 30 classes to be able to read few settings is 
>>> really not a way to go. Java has a nifty class called Properties, 
>>> which can do everything... With a little memory.
>>
>>
>> The configure system does use properties files to store the 
>> properties. The XML configures the configuration system. If you can 
>> replace config.xml using a properties file and have it:
>> - be as easy to read as xml
> 
> YES and writable too..

No I mean, convert config.xml to config.properties, and have it as 
readable to a human as config.xml.

>> - be syntax checked by a DTD
> 
> Properties files don't have DTD

Exactly, so if you spell something wrong the system just doesn't work. 
Config will warn you about where your mistake is. A property file won't.

>> - convert to code using xsl to perform a lower level check
>> - generate a GUI without coding
>> - not polute other classes with config dependent code
> 
> Nice feature that you have self updating config, but so far I haven't 
> seen any *good* fruits of that labor, except there is a lot more code 
> than needed.
> 
>> Check the config system. A simple properties file isn't even close.
> 
> I have seen that you supply options by config.xml, but if I am frank I 
> don't see why. I don't see any good feature in using dynamic config file 
> for static options. If you had real plugin features this might come 
> handy, but not in the way you have done this.

Try adding a new configuration option to the Swing GUI, and potentially 
to a web/other ui, simply by adding 5 or so lines to a config file, then 
you'll see why.

And it does this without having masses of cross-dependencies between the 
config system and the rest of the code. We could rip out and replace 
either without disturbing the other.

Joe.