U.S. Infotel Joins Forces
with
Affordable XML-based Web Applications
on the Horizon
OKLAHOMA CITY OK [03.06.2002] - After nearly two years' hiatus
spent on research and experimentation with cutting-edge standards-based and open source
Web technologies, Binary Prophets' controversial head designer and
Web underground legend, James Elkins,
returns with an all new bag of design and programming tricks.
Elkins, a dyed-in-the-wool hand-coder of HTML, CSS, ECMAScript,
and PHP4, has produced some of the most stunning DHTML visual effects
and GUI elements we've seen in years. Now he brings front-to-back server-side
and client-side XML-based applications and content management to the table -
at a fraction of the cost of custom compiled programs in Java or Visual Basic.
When asked how XML can improve on traditional content management
methods, he explains:
"Current content management schemes often require the site
operator to make drastic code changes to implement seemingly minor updates - a
time-consuming and error-prone process. In addition, most require content, style,
and functionality to be interdependent to some degree. We call this 'dirty code'.
With XML, all aspects of the system - content, messages, user settings,
GUI elements, DHTML and CGI applications - the works - can be described by a set
of XML document types that can be used as templates to create document or application
objects. We can then concentrate on refining the system one module at a time rather than
continually patching obsolete code."
That's easily said - as it has so often been - but how do you get around
all the cross-browser DOM implementation compatibility issues that must be faced in
order to pull it off? Elkins answers:
"Simple. We use an ECMAScript XML parser and DOM function library, and
ignore browser implementations altogether."
One benefit of such a system seems obvious to us. Having an entire system
built on text documents will allow sysops to expand and upgrade the system by dropping
in new scripts instead of writing and configuring custom scripts and designing database
structures for each application.
U.S. Infotel Corporation is proud to be the exclusive distributor of
Binary Prophets' complete Web services.
