Re: [xsl] Future of XSL 1.0 support

["Michael Kay mike@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <xsl-list-service@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just as if the system was written in COBOL or Fortran, you should be aware
that you're using old technology that (a) won't be around for ever, and (b)
will get more difficult to support over time. That doesn't necessarily mean
you need to do anything about it right now, but relying on old technology does
have costs and risks. That's particularly true in today's world, where a lot
of software is dependent on open source components whose developers lose
interest in maintaining it, and where companies like Microsoft are
increasingly cavalier about dropping support for old technologies in the
interests of moving forward more rapidly (they have to, if they're going to
compete with new entrants to the market).

Your biggest security in this situation comes from being part of a large
community of users. If there are lots of other people in the same situation
(and there are) then there's far less risk of the plug being pulled. But the
community dwindles over time, and eventually you start to find all your
friends have walked away and you're on your own....

Michael Kay
Saxonica

> On 25 Nov 2020, at 02:53, Charles Muller acmuller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<xsl-list-service@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Dear XSLT'ers,
>
> Having followed the recent thread on oXygen 23 which ended up dealing with
the issue of ongoing support for XSL 1.0, I'm guessing that I should be
concerned.
>
> I know the basics of XSLT, but I wouldn't really call myself a programmer. I
manage an online dictionary (www.buddhism-dict.net) that I presume runs on XSL
1.0 (XML nodes are called up via a Perl search and then rendered into HTML via
XSL) on a Linode host.
>
> The system was built by Michael Beddow, who passed away last year, so the
XSLT version is not being updated.
>
> Do you think this is a matter that should be of some pressing concern for me
now?
>
> Your advice will be appreciated.
>
> Regards,
>
> Chuck
>
> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
> <!DOCTYPE xsl:stylesheet [
> <xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform";
>  version="1.0">
>
> --
>
> ---------------------------
> A. Charles Muller, Professor
>
> Buddhist Culture Research Center
> Musashino University
> 1-1-20 Shinmachi, Nishitokyo-shi
> Tokyo 202-8585, Japan
> Office Phone: 042-468-3145
>
> (University of Tokyo, Professor Emeritus)
> Web Site: Resources for East Asian Language and Thought
> http://www.acmuller.net
>
> Twitter: @ACharlesMuller