Why did SGML fail?
We feel that the rumors of SGML’s death are greatly exaggerated. For organizations with complex documentation requirements, SGML is still the mark-up structure of choice because it offers sophistication and because all the tools are in place to support it. Many of the clients listed on our “Clients” webpage are currently using SGML. XML has gotten support, because, among other reasons, it is easier to get started with. You can often get started without designing DTDs or worrying about some of the other upfront requirements of SGML. XML is sometimes described as a starter kit for SGML because it is so much easier to master. However, to get the same benefits that SGML can deliver, a DTD and other trappings will eventually be needed (especially for complex documentation). For simpler applications, XML allows you to get started without all the SGML overhead. Michael Gross, DCL’s Director of R&D adds … It may be misleading to think of XML as SGML with all of the unnecessary bells and whis
