[xsl] An interesting angle on types in XSLT 2.0?

[Andrew Watt <andrew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The various discussions on types in XSLT 2.0 are interesting but there is 
one angle that I don't recall seeing discussed.

The thought goes something like this:

Some who object to XSLT 2.0 types complain (I don't think that is unfair) 
that a new class of error is introduced.

But, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Some who are aerated by this possible new class of errors in XSLT 2.0 are 
undoubtedly enthusiastic for XML.

Yet XML, viewed from the perspective of, for example, an HTML page author 
does just the same thing - it introduces a new class of errors. HTML, and 
SGML, allow omission of end tags, of quotes on attribute values etc. So XML 
introduces new classes of errors that are, not to put too fine a point on 
it, show stoppers for markup not written according to the rules.

Just as an improperly written XSLT 2.0 stylesheet may not run at all so an 
improperly written XHTML page may not display at all, while its looser HTML 
counterpart does.

If a new class of errors introduced by XML is "good", why is a new class of 
errors introduced by types in XSLT 2.0 "bad"?

Andrew Watt
P.S. Yes, I know there are many differences in detail but I thought it 
might be an interesting angle to discuss.



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