It's Complicated: Holistic Approaches for Considering Complexity in XML Documents

Abstract

This paper explores the impacts of complexity on the creation and use of XML documents, with a focus on human experiences of complexity. In order to discuss this topic in detail, it would be helpful to have a method of measuring complexity, which we assert does not (yet?) exist. Furthermore, complexity in the markup itself does not always correlate with complexity in writing, proofing, reading, and processing the XML — what one might call operational complexity. Thus, measurements of complexity that focus purely on metrics — counting elements or attributes, comparing the density of markup relative to textual contents, measuring the diversity of elements used — provide only a partial view of complexity from the perspective of the projects and individuals using the XML. In this paper, we will discuss some features of complexity as it impacts the sharing and reuse of XML files, the longevity and sustainability of XML projects, the consistency and quality of encoded texts, and the planning and implementation of encoding projects.