Re: RFC 357 (v1) Perl should use XML for documentation instead of POD

[John Porter]

John Siracusa wrote:
> On 10/3/00 10:59 AM, John Porter wrote:
> 
> > If you add (e.g.) support for tables, then pod is only translatable
> > into languages which also support tables.
> 
> What languages *don't* support tables? 

I knew that was a bad example of my point.  Think of something complex.
O.k., how about mathematical formulas.   Doable in XHTML and LaTeX, NOT
doable in HTML 3.2.  Not really doable in ASCII, either.


> Let the
> translators worry about how, exactly, to down-convert to simpler formats.
> Let *them* do the special-cases.

How would you down-convert a complex math formula to ascii from, say, xhtml?

You know, I'm thinking TeX would make a great extension language for pod.
Simple, powerful, text-based, with translators to lots of other formats,
and good tool support (e.g. emacs modes).


> I contend that good documentation *is* a complex thing...well, more complex
> than the set of things that can be done in "standard" POD, anyway.

Well, you have a simple notion of complex.  :-)


> [POD] is *too* "plain" and "old", IMO.

If it is sufficient for 99% of documentation needs, it is none too plain,
despite its age.

-- 
John Porter

        By pressing down a special key  It plays a little melody