On Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at 03:43 pm, Bernard wrote: [snip]
The maximum is ascii. You can even read it without a computer.
Flexibility is maximum in ascii. A new keyword is added and the old software doesn't understand the keyword and will ignore it. The problem of upgrading software is old software which won't read the new software's output at all.
[snip]
I agree completely with this. In fact, for the past 10 years, the whole of computing has moved towards ascii-based (character-based) data interchange standards away from binary data formats. To wit, SGML, HTML and its variants, XML, as well as scripting languages which remain text based and uncompiled (binary data). As an example, Perl, Python, Javascript run on more platforms than I know. A powerful database environment I worked in years go made every record available as text (it lives on in Universe and
"multi-value" databases). LaTex and PostScript ... text based.
The only (bad) reason to not use ascii for text based data IMNSHO is when a vendor wants to maintain control of their proprietary data format. Good for them but a real PITA for everyone else.
jw
To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
