[Zope] DTML?

[Chris Withers]

Shane Hathaway wrote:
> The idea of making an XML compliant DTML has been tossed around
> before.  It would remove the difference between <dtml-var x> and
> <dtml-var "x">, since XML allows neither syntax. :-)

I'm not too hot on XML compliancy, but if it makes the problems I
mentioned go away, then great :-)

> > 3. Good documentation (much easier to do if 1 and 2 are met...)
> 
> How about a "namespace inspector"?  It could provide an easy way to
> find out what methods are available and the what the calling
> conventions are (since it would interface with the help system), and it
> could be automatically invoked when exceptions occur (under certain
> conditions), making it a Zope debugging tool.

Sounds interesting but it's never going to beat a decent paper reference
with examples...

> I'm working on enhancing Python Methods right now.  I'm close to
> getting them properly interfaced with DTML namespaces, so that DTML can
> invoke Python Methods using simpler DTML syntax.

Hmmm, how about just sorting out the problems: dtml-var and dtml-call

<dtml-var "x(_,_.None,arg1=x,arg2='y',arg3=3)" html_quote>

should really be:

<dtml-var x arg1=x arg2='y' arg3=3 html_quote>

...IMNSHO ;-)

> A curious paradox: newbies need it to be easier, but experienced users
> need consistency.

I don't see a paradox, these two are both solved by sorting out the same
problems.

> It doesn't confuse Jim! ;-)

<dtml-call "REQUEST.set('id','answer1')">
<dtml-if "_[_[id]]=='funny'">
So lobotomize Jim, then he'll know what it's like for the rest of us! :P
<dtml-else>
Yes, but if Jim is the only person who understands it, then no-one else
will be able to use it, DC will have no customers and we'll all be
building sites using CORBA, beans and otehr 'things'
</dtml-if>

Thanks for the comments though, Ethan metnioned this as a project for
dev.zope.org. I'm really up for that, would you be able to help out?

cheers,

Chris