How to cite this paper

Renear, Allen H. “The SGML/XML Approach to Document Processing: [an incomplete] History of Criticisms and Challenges.” Presented at Balisage: The Markup Conference 2023, Washington, DC, July 31 - August 4, 2023. In Proceedings of Balisage: The Markup Conference 2023. Balisage Series on Markup Technologies, vol. 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.4242/BalisageVol28.Renear01.

Balisage: The Markup Conference 2023
July 31 - August 4, 2023

Balisage Paper: The SGML/XML Approach to Document Processing: [an incomplete] History of Criticisms and Challenges

Allen H. Renear

Special Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost

Professor, the School of Information Sciences / ischool.illinois.edu

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Allen H. Renear is a Special Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost and a Professor at the School of Information Sciences / ischool.illinois.edu at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Abstract

Like all SGML/XML enthusiasts I have spent considerable energy responding to objections to the SGML/XML approach to document processing. In this talk I list some objections to that approach that have been posed by authors, scholars, designers, philosophers, clients, programmers, web designers, and computer scientists, and indicate how I (and others) have responded — that includes responses that in the interest of sustaining friendships or job security were never quite articulated. I look forward to your additions in the discussion.