XML FAQ

The fundamental answer to many of the questions boils down to `simplify': many questions do not show up if you use the simple, elegant core of SGML without worrying about optional features. The credo of this book is simply, `SGML doesn't need to be complicated'. SGML has the potential for complexity at certain points. But much of the complexity comes from optional parts and can be avoided. SGML methodology and its primary benefits suffer no loss even if you skip many features, which speaks well for the quality of SGML's overall design. Many of the questions discussed involve those optional parts, and therefore can be avoided by judicious designers and authors. The two key goals of the book are (1) to answer questions that you may actually encounter as an SGML user, and to help you get unstuck and be as productive as possible in using the language and (2) to show proactive ways you can simplify your use of SGML, and get its very substantial benefits with minimal complexity.