XML Question

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of developing a new XML language?
  (9 marks)
• Marking scheme:
  3 points for it's expensive to develop
  3 points for documents can be more easily processed automatically
  3 points for other
  
• Sample answer:
  There is a lot of overhead in developing a new XML language, so the primary disadvantage is time. This expense is only reasonable when a lot of people are going to use the language. So, an important part of the process is getting those people involved. Once developed, the language can be used to aid communication. Documents are written in the language, and these documents can be processed more easily automatically than the documents not written in XML. Moreover, an old XML language may not be appropriate because it is too broad, too specific, or not appropriate for the domain. One could also note that developing an XML language improves the developer’s understanding of the domain, but this may be an expensive way to improve understanding. Similarly, the development of an XML language can help a community’s understanding of a domain cohere. This helps with people thinking similarly, but also comes at the expense of people missing things outside the language.