[Zope] DTML or TAL

[Matthew T. Kromer]

Oliver Marx wrote:

>Greetz
>
>Reading the ZopeBook.pdf one get the impression the DTML is on its way out
>and TAL on its way in.
>
>Is that the case?
>
>If yes, why does Devshed then post an article about DTML?
>
>\Oliver
>  
>

Hi Oliver,

TAL is certainly a newer model of how to mark up templates.   It gets a 
lot of development attention.  One might say that DTML has matured, and 
isn't being aggresively developed any more.  However, that's not to 
imply DTML is dead -- right now DTML is more heavily optimized than TAL, 
so DTML pages will render with less CPU power.

Arguably, there are slightly different audiences for DTML vs TAL -- TAL 
is really geared towards users of HTML markup tools, who need a markup 
language that fits seamlessly in their tool.  There are some things you 
can get away with using DTML that are clumsy with TAL (e.g. dtml-else vs 
a tal:codition="not:").  You also use DTML expression syntax in SQL methods.

This doesn't mean that either of the two methods is "perfect" or 
"ideal."  A lot of people from the ASP or PHP sites want to be able to 
drop to an in-line script on  a page.  Neither DTML or TAL do that. 
 DTML and TAL both encourage you to move your complex logic into 
supporting scripts.

In any case, DTML is not being killed in favor of TAL; however, many 
Zope components are switching their templates from DTML to TAL.  Many 
times this is for the convenience of authors who wish to use Dreamweaver 
or GoLive to mark up those templates.

Anyway, just because TAL is new and shiny and getting a lot of attention 
doesn't mean DTML is dead, or going away, or even withering.  If you're 
trying to decide which to use, pick the one you are most comfortable 
with, and that best meets your needs.

-- 
Matt Kromer
Zope Corporation  http://www.zope.com/