XSLT, Syntax, Semantics and Frustration.

XSLT, Syntax, Semantics and Frustration.

Jun 25

XSLT is a pure language. Its sublime, elementary and effecient. Its correct, exactly as how things should be.

However we are developers, we earn money when we complete tasks on time, we get poor promotion scores if things aren’t completed on time. Its a rant but its true.

If you have ever been on a project utilizing XSLT for the first time, consider changing the way you work. Here are top 3 things that XSLT can make you change, code-thought-wise

  • You have to declare a template each time you want to re-use a variable in a new way
  • Special characters need special xsl files, else consider #160 ; instead of
  • Attributes are “@*”

Here are changes you should accomodate on your daily life to work better

  • Knowing these please stop writing Javascript or any other scripting language till further notice.
  • Understand that crashes and XSL errors are making you a good machine that generates optimized code.
  • Learn to negotiate whats possible with the language and trouble the heck out of your manager or superior. If you work alone, stand before a mirror and arrange your priorities as post-its until you can’t see yourself on the mirror.

You will find these resources extremely helpful though in your journey, I wish you good luck

If you came this far, here’s something that’s worth trying

And you now ask what I did?

I used the Sarissa AJAX library to build a Vehicle Pricing Sytem for an automobile giant for three months. It was a prototype.

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