this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2026
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Programming

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The lost art of XML — mmagueta (marcosmagueta.com)
submitted 1 day ago by Kissaki@programming.dev to c/programming@programming.dev
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There exists a peculiar amnesia in software engineering regarding XML. Mention it in most circles and you will receive knowing smiles, dismissive waves, the sort of patronizing acknowledgment reserved for technologies deemed passé. "Oh, XML," they say, as if the very syllables carry the weight of obsolescence. "We use JSON now. Much cleaner."

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[–] Kissaki@programming.dev 1 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

If the XML parser parses into an ordered representation (the XML information set), isn't it then the deserializer's choice how they map that to the programming language/type system they are deserializing to? So in a system with ordered arrays it would likely map to those?

If XML can be written in an ordered way, and the parsed XML information set has ordered children for those, I still don't see where order gets lost or is impossible [to guarantee] in XML.

[–] Feyd@programming.dev 1 points 19 hours ago

You are correct that it is the deserializer's choice. You are incorrect when you imply that it is a good idea to rely on behavior that isn't enforced in the spec. A lot of people have been surprised when that assumption turns out to be wrong.