Debian adds integrated XML Support

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The Debian Project                                http://www.debian.org/
Debian adds integrated XML Support                      [email protected]
May 6th, 2004                   http://www.debian.org/News/2004/20040506
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Debian adds integrated XML Support

The upcoming stable Debian release (code-named sarge) will feature fully
integrated XML support.  Multiple toolchains for XSL(T) processing, a
fully standards-compliant XML catalog system, and a Debian XML policy
document for both Debian developers and users provide the backbone of a
complete, out-of-the-box system for XML developers and authors.

Supplementing the already integrated SGML and DSSSL infrastructure and
packages, the resulting innovative XML subsystem positions Debian as a
premier platform for SGML and XML developers, offering a complete
working set of tools for documenters and markup programmers with no
manual setup required.


Features
--------

 * Standards-compliant hierarchical implementation[1] of the OASIS
   XML Catalogs specification[2].

   1. http://debian-xml-sgml.alioth.debian.org/xml-policy/xml-catalogs.html
   2. http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/4952/wd-entity-xml-catalogs-1.0_2e.html

 * XML catalog system maintenance tool (update-xmlcatalog).
   
 * Complete policy documents for both XML[3] and SGML[4] implementation
   on Debian systems.

   3. http://debian-xml-sgml.alioth.debian.org/xml-policy
   4. http://debian-xml-sgml.alioth.debian.org/sgml-policy

 * Developer documentation/guidelines[5] for packaging of XML
   resources and tools (dh_installxmlcatalog) for registering
   package resources in the XML catalog system.

   5. http://debian-xml-sgml.alioth.debian.org/xml-policy/xml-registering-resources.html

 * Emphasis on maintaining backwards compatibility with previous Debian
   releases[6].

   6. http://debian-xml-sgml.alioth.debian.org/xml-policy/xml-migration-symlink.html

 * FHS standards-compliant[7] placement of XML resources.

   7. http://www.pathname.com/fhs/

 * Integrated editor support for XML with GNU Emacs using the psgml
   and nxml-mode packages and related tools.

Debian's open model of participation and continuing commitment to
system quality (as reflected in the Debian Policy[8]) puts it
head-and-shoulders above other commercial or free distributions.

 8. http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/


How To Get Involved
-------------------

Interested Debian users and developers are invited to participate in
future development & implementation of XML and related tools by joining
the Debian XML/SGML Group and/or one of the XML/SGML mailing lists:

 * Debian XML/SGML Group
   http://debian-xml-sgml.alioth.debian.org/
   
 * XML/SGML Policy and Toolchain Discussion
   http://lists.debian.org/debian-sgml/
   
 * XML/SGML Collaborative Packaging Discussion
   http://lists.alioth.debian.org/mailman/listinfo/debian-xml-sgml-devel