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Re: [xsl] [Ann] Oxygen XML Editor version 23 release

2020-11-23 11:32:28


On Nov 23, 2020, at 12:15 PM, Michael Kay mike(_at_)saxonica(_dot_)com 
<xsl-list-service(_at_)lists(_dot_)mulberrytech(_dot_)com> wrote:


I don't see what is unfortunate about people using XSLT 1.0. I don't see why 
people dislike the fact that others are using it.

You're building up technical debt. The concept here is that you can spend $N 
every year on updating and refreshing the technology you are using, or you 
can depreciate your asset by $M per year if you don't, and you need to assess 
whether $N exceeds $M.

The depreciation you apply depends on whether you're doing any ongoing 
development. If you are, then you should factor in that moving to new 
technology will reduce those development costs.

If you want you can also factor in risk (how exposed are you to some major 
discontinuity that stops the whole thing working, e.g. a security 
vulnerability), support costs (is there anyone who still knows this stuff?), 
and staff retention (can you find good people who are prepared to work with 
old technology).

So it's not a question of like or dislike, fun or no fun, it's a question of 
economics, of minimising the lifetime costs of your system. Of course, the 
calculations will come out differently for different projects.

I agree. But it is also a question of timing. The time for an organization to 
upgrade should be up to the users, not to the vendors of their tools.  

AND, there are things tool vendors can to do make updating easier. For example, 
providing guidance on how to "fix" things that "break" in such an upgrade. If a 
capability is removed from a product, even if for very good reason, guidance on 
how to modify applications that used that capability, are welcome. Removing 
capabilities without explicitly providing such guidance creates anxiety, ill 
will, and fear. 

-- Tommie



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B. Tommie Usdin                                                                
mailto:btusdin(_at_)mulberrytech(_dot_)com
Mulberry Technologies, Inc.                                                     
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