Fate of the comp.text.sgml FAQ

[John Lamp]

Hi all,

I hate to think how long it is since I was last in this ng.

I have recently been contacted by the news.answers people, asking about
the comp.text.sgml FAQ.

I have been hosting this at
http://lamp.infosys.deakin.edu.au/sgml/sgmlfaq.txt
for longer than I like to admit!

Some time around the year 2000, my faithful Sparc 1 tossed in its chips,
and one of the things that broke was the automatic posting of the FAQ to
the ng and news.answers. So it hasn't been in the usenet domain for some
time.

I am also conscious that (my copy of) the FAQ has not been updated since
1998 (are you still there Dave?) and that the advent of XML amongst
other chancges has made the FAQ a very antiquated read.

So, what do the regulars think?

. Does comp.text.sgml need a FAQ?
. Is the existing FAQ worth updating, or should it be scrapped?
. If Dave is no longer around, who will maintain it?

I'm happy to continue to host it, but will have to find/write some php
to reinstate the autoposting to usenet.

Over to you ...

Cheers
John

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[Peter Flynn]

Post by John Lamp
Hi all,
I hate to think how long it is since I was last in this ng.

Welcome back :-)

Post by John Lamp
I have recently been contacted by the news.answers people, asking about
the comp.text.sgml FAQ.
I have been hosting this at
http://lamp.infosys.deakin.edu.au/sgml/sgmlfaq.txt
for longer than I like to admit!

The XML FAQ points at another copy of this, at
http://math.albany.edu:8800/hm/sgml/cts-faq.html

Post by John Lamp
I am also conscious that (my copy of) the FAQ has not been updated since
1998 (are you still there Dave?) and that the advent of XML amongst
other chancges has made the FAQ a very antiquated read.
So, what do the regulars think?
. Does comp.text.sgml need a FAQ?

I think it still does. There is still a surprisingly large number of
people using SGML, from what I gathered at Extreme Markup last summer.

Post by John Lamp
. Is the existing FAQ worth updating, or should it be scrapped?

I haven't checked the links in it, but assuming they're valid, I think
the information it contains is still worth keeping (plus a link to the
XML FAQ, perhaps :-)

Post by John Lamp
. If Dave is no longer around, who will maintain it?

The $64,000 question.

///Peter

[John Lamp]

Post by Peter Flynn

Post by John Lamp
Hi all,
I hate to think how long it is since I was last in this ng.

Welcome back :-)

Ta! :)

Post by Peter Flynn

Post by John Lamp
I have recently been contacted by the news.answers people, asking
about the comp.text.sgml FAQ.
I have been hosting this at
http://lamp.infosys.deakin.edu.au/sgml/sgmlfaq.txt
for longer than I like to admit!

The XML FAQ points at another copy of this, at
http://math.albany.edu:8800/hm/sgml/cts-faq.html

One of the many things we'd need to address!

Post by Peter Flynn

Post by John Lamp
I am also conscious that (my copy of) the FAQ has not been updated
since 1998 (are you still there Dave?) and that the advent of XML
amongst other chancges has made the FAQ a very antiquated read.
So, what do the regulars think?
. Does comp.text.sgml need a FAQ?

I think it still does. There is still a surprisingly large number of
people using SGML, from what I gathered at Extreme Markup last summer.

Post by John Lamp
. Is the existing FAQ worth updating, or should it be scrapped?

I haven't checked the links in it, but assuming they're valid, I think
the information it contains is still worth keeping (plus a link to the
XML FAQ, perhaps :-)

Most of the links work.

Post by Peter Flynn

Post by John Lamp
. If Dave is no longer around, who will maintain it?

The $64,000 question.

I've emailed Dave - "Unknown address error 550-'<***@uottawa.ca>" :(

I'll do some digging. If I can't find him, I can always take it on - one
update in ten years! I can handle that! :)

Cheers
John

[William F Hammond]

Post by Peter Flynn

Post by John Lamp
I am also conscious that (my copy of) the FAQ has not been updated
since 1998 (are you still there Dave?) and that the advent of XML
amongst other chancges has made the FAQ a very antiquated read.
So, what do the regulars think?
. Does comp.text.sgml need a FAQ?

I think it still does. There is still a surprisingly large number of
people using SGML, from what I gathered at Extreme Markup last summer.

Although it does need updating, it's not so antiquated.

I, for one, am NOT surprised that people are still using SGML since
I am one of them.

Post by Peter Flynn

Post by John Lamp
. Is the existing FAQ worth updating, or should it be scrapped?

I haven't checked the links in it, but assuming they're valid, I think
the information it contains is still worth keeping (plus a link to the
XML FAQ, perhaps :-)

Yes, let's keep it.

One point I would add regarding differences between SGML and XML
(Question 8) is that XML is designed for use on the web while SGML is
not. XHTML is an XML application.

-- Bill