XML is an elegant solution to the problem of data portability. Like all breakthroughs, however, it gives rise to new challenges. With XML, you can store and structure data for seamless, cross-platform exchange—which is especially crucial in today's e-commerce environments. But XML does no processing itself. To leverage XML data, you need to use a programming language. XML Programming with Perl, Python, and PHP teaches you to reap the special advantage of processing your XML with these and four other scripting languages, which—as you'll see—trump C, C++, and Java in a variety of ways. Along this path lie shorter development times and lower costs. At its end lie performance benefits such as superior text processing, memory management, and data modeling capabilities, as well as strategic benefits such as greater longevity and broader compatibility.
Choose the language that makes the most sense for you and move ahead. With this book's help you'll master the execution of remote procedures, the internal modeling of XML data, the exporting of internal data into XML, and the conversion of XML to formats as varied as SQL, HTML, and proprietary configuration schemes. Application-specific examples keep you focused on the real world; at the same time, the scripting techniques you'll learn all rise above specific applications. Like XML data, they're flexible, and they'll serve you well in whatever context you're working.
Table of Contents:
Introduction. Part I: Applying XML.
Chapter 1: Introduction to XML.
Chapter 2: Fundamentals of XML.
Chapter 3: Data Type Definitions (DTDs).
Chapter 4: Applying XML with Scripting Languages.
Chapter 5: Data Exchange and XML.
Part II: XML and Perl.
Chapter 6: XML Solutions in Perl.
Chapter 7: Perl and Unicode.
Chapter 8: Generating and Parsing XML Documents with Perl.
Chapter 9: Converting XML Documents Using Perl.
Chapter 10: Applying SOAP/XML-RPC in Perl.
Part III: XML and Python.
Chapter 11: XML Solutions in Python.
Chapter 12: Python and Unicode.
Chapter 13: Generating and Parsing XML Documents with Python.
Chapter 14: Converting XML Documents Using Python.
Chapter 15: Applying SOAP/XML-RPC in Python.
Chapter 16: Zope and XML Documents.
Part IV: XML and PHP.
Chapter 17: XML and PHP.
Chapter 18: Developing XML Applications with PHP.
Chapter 19: PHP and XML-RPC.
Part V: XML and Other Languages.
Chapter 20: XML and REBOL.
Chapter 21: XML and Ruby.
Chapter 22: XML and Tcl.
Chapter 23: AppleScript and XML.
Appendices.
Appendix A: Unicode Quick Reference.
Appendix B: Resource Guide.
Index.
