[Demexp-dev] designing XML format for demexp bases

[David MENTRE]

Hello demexpers,

I'm currently designing the XML format for DemExp. I've raised up the
priority for this task as having a manipulable saving format is crucial
if we want to make more than a few tests.

You'll find below a sample of demexp database in XML format. I tried to
follow advices found on the Net but I would like to have your
opinion. The format is machine readable but it should also speak to a
human reader.

Some tags might not speak to you as they are related to demexp
internals. The main issue I have is between the use of attributes and
elements, i.e. should I use <element attribute="2"> </element> or
<element><attribute>2</attribute> </element>? I tried to use common
sense but I might be wrong.

The naming of tags is also important. If you have any advice...

If you are under Debian, you can use nxml-mode package to have a good
XML mode under Emacs.

<?xml version="1.0" ?>

<demexp_base>

  <participant_base>
    <participant kind="individual"> <!-- or "delegate" -->
      <login>root</login>
      <password>md5pass</password>
      <group>admin</group>
      <group>demexp</group>
    </participant>

  </participant_base>

  <classification_base>
    <entry>   <!-- or should I use <entry id="12"> ? -->
      <id>12</id>
      <path>/</path>
      <keyword>free software</keyword>
      <subkeyword>demexp </subkeyword>
      <subkeyword>emacs</subkeyword>
      <question>Is demexp free software?</question>
      <question>Is free software compatible with business?</question>
    </entry>

    <next_identification_number>13</next_identification_number>
  </classification_base>

  <delegation_base>
    <delegation>
      <delegator kind="individual">david</delegator>
      <delegate>delegate_fred</delegate>
      <classification domain="0110001"/>
         <!-- domain is a binary vector of keywords ids -->
    </delegation>

  </delegation_base>

  <position_base>
    <question>
      <description>Is demexp free software?</description>
      <author>david</author>
      <limit_date>none</limit_date>

      <response>   <!-- or should I use <response id="12"> ? -->
        <id>0</id>
        <description>Yes</description>
        <author>fred</author>
        <link>http://...</link>
      </response>

      <vote>
        <individual>identifier</individual>
        <choice>1</choice> <!-- elements are ordered so having elements instead 
of 
                                attributes is crucial here -->
        <choice>3</choice>
      </vote>

      <vote>
        <delegate domain="0001001">name</delegate>
        <choice>0</choice>
      </vote>

      <elected_response>0</elected_response>
      <elected_response>1</elected_response> <!-- in case of several winners -->
      
    </question>
  </position_base>

</demexp_base>

Yours,
d.
-- 
 David Mentré <address@hidden>