external parsed entites (was: A unique ID question ?)

[Len Bullard]

David Brownell wrote:
> 
> > Eliot The K asserts ... external parsed entities are evil ...

> 
> Or in short, the tool can be misused, so ban the tool.  I'm
> not convinced, nor am I likely to be.  Applied with consistency,
> that makes banging rocks together to make fire become evil.

Not really.  You agree to a set of tests by which you determine 
if:

o  The rocks are the right rocks to make fire

o  The combustible is in combustible condition (not wet)

o  An igniting accelerant is required or available

o  A set of tests are available

o  What to do if any or all of the above conditions aren't met

Known as conformance tests for systems, they are written 
for the contract and referenced from there.  In all cases 
I can think of, they have a timing/duration value set whose 
opening and closing events are also authoritatively stated.

External parsed entities aren't evil.  They just smell 
funny after you have to bake the namespace.

len



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