[sdiy] Modular Patch Notation (MPN)

[Bert Schiettecatte]

Hi,

I started an XML based format about 3 years ago for describing modular
synth patches... search for 'FlowML'. I haven't continued the effort
because nobody responded or nobody wanted to get involved. Maybe I
should continue this project with the input of all you guys...

Bert

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of Ray Wilson
Sent: zondag 5 oktober 2003 4:01
To: Andre Majorel; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: RE: [sdiy] Modular Patch Notation (MPN)

Hi All

Just my two cents.

As a programmer I had to reply on this one. One of XML's basic
properties is
that   it is readable by a human. With proper use of elements and
attributes
it can be made very readable just by itself. Using XSL to transform it
is
also a major plus. With a proper xsl transform the XML can be put into a
form that is as readable as you could possibly want.

I'd vote for XML as the standard.

Ray

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Andre Majorel
Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2003 1:57 PM
To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Modular Patch Notation (MPN)


On 2003-10-04 14:33 +0200, Michael Buchstaller wrote:

> >Would you prefer to read and write this :
> >or this ?
>
> Whether this is C-Style or HTML-Style does not matter.

s/C/TCL/
s/HTML/XML/

> A trained person (read: programmer) is able to read both
> fluently, and a mere mortal will think both notations suck.

Oversimplification. I'd wager that a mere mortal will have less
trouble with a TCL-like syntax than with XML. And a programmer
will be able to read text with less effort. It's not just
whether or not you can do it, it's also how much it costs to do
it.

If it's important to be able to read modular patches into
spreadsheets, that could also be achieved by writing a program
to convert back and forth between the notation language and XML.

XML has the advantage of being easier to parse by machines. It
also has the disadvantage of being harder to read or write by
humans. For a given application, you need to determine which
problem matters most and make your decision accordingly.

--
André Majorel <amajorel at teaser.fr>
http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/

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