December 29, 2004

XML Code Sample Picks of the Day

A new entry with this same title will be created and used each day to add an ongoing list of cool code samples I stumble upon throughout my day of development plunder, err, pleasure. Given the title they will tend to be XML-based samples but some may be more specific to Java or C#, or Python, Ruby, and Tcl and Tk as I am now learning a bit of, etc... with only light mention of XML anywhere in the post, if at all. So, in other words, a lot of these posts might be outside the box-model a but ;) But to know that there are actually other boxes out there and not just boxes but baskets, and globes, and pyramids a plenty to fulfill with power and dignity the role each technology was designed to do, and do well.

The first one for today: (and then I'm going back to bed... just woke up to get drink of water and noticed this post from Kurt and thought it worthy of a quick showcase.)

# Building a XUL Date Picker with XBL by Kurt Cagle

Using XML as a language for defining classes (or more often "behaviors") is hardly new. The behavior components within Internet Explorer, which first utilized many of the same design patterns now used by XBL, working in much the same fashion - by assigning a CSS behavior property to an external "class" definition written in some form of markup you could turn an HTML object into a much more sophisticated object.

In looking at this it reminds me I need to update the CSS on that site to make the code sample lettering white on dark instead of slightly dark on slightly darker, never a good thing. I'll do that now and then see you all later this morning/afternoon/evening, whatever time it may be for you here in about 6-7 hours.

Cheers!