verlocs wrote:Ok, um...
Firstly, a credentials statement. I have a batchelor's degree in computer sciences from Iowa State University. I work as a java/tomcat/database administrator for a large company and get paid to know this answer.
That's crazy talk.
XML is a data interchange format. It is a way of encoding information for ready conversion and reuse between systems. It is NOT, and never will be, a replacement for a relational database. Why?
1. The flat out most obvious reason is that it is just a format of data storage. It has no mechanism to traverse itself. Not only that, the worker code that does exist to traverse xml in various languages are hideously inefficient.
2. As a means of data storage it is also very inefficient. XML is an interchange format; it cannot efficiently link data in structures other then trees, and the markup consumes substantial amounts of space.
I'm gonna guess OP that you're a freshman. Got some crazy stupid ideas in your head from some professor who's preaching that xQuery is the end-all-be-all of data storage and someday everyone will realize it. Got a message, it's not. Go back to whoever told you whatever they told you and say to their face they're messed up in the head.
LOL, college flunkies are always cute...not all that bright though, they really have a hard time "thinking outside the box" so to speak...and of course they're always quick to anger when their preconceived notions are turned around on them. Spoon fed education at its finest, you think what you're told, but you never really bother to try and push forward.
If you really want to get into a pissing contest though, allow me to abruptly end you...my last client...was a five time Emmy award winning production company. Hell, I've even created stand alone Flash applications for the White House Conference On Cooperative Conservation. Billboards...websites...programs...you name it, I'm an expert in it...and not some college flunkie like yourself. I understand technology to a point where there are no limitations, I can make anything do pretty much whatever I like...and while I'm sure for someone of your..."height", the prospect of using XML in place of a SQL database doesn't make any sense at all, well, it's only because you lack the skills necessary to use it that way...of course in your case I highly doubt you even understand the core difference between the two forms.
SQL is used for storing data that's to be manipulated, XML is for storing straight data that generally won't. SQL is generally very good when it comes to handling incredibly large, massive amounts of data, that need to be continually accessed, searched through, and altered. But uh...trick of it is...a web board...yeah not so much. Even with the ability to edit posts there's no real need for SQL to be used with such a form...unless you really just want to go out of your way and waste system resources.
The point here that you're missing, that was already pointed out, is that it's a matter of moving the processing. Using PHP and SQL...that's server side. Do you know what that is? Do you know what "server side processing" is? Well, ASSuming you do, you should know that it's generally *NOT* what you want to do with making websites, not unless you're really interested in costing yourself a whole shit load of money in hosting fees.
Now, I'll admit that the form certainly isn't for amateurs and college flunkies like yourself, you likely wouldn't even know where to begin to be perfectly blunt. I mean you think a SQL database is an absolute requirement for a web board, which clearly shows a definite lack of understanding about what a database even is.
Essentially it's like you're trying to use dynamite to start a fire. I guess if that's the only way you were taught, then that's the only way you know how to do it...er...well I guess you don't actually even know that much, not if you're the one whose in charge of this site, given that this is a cookie cutter web board...ie *SOMEONE ELSE* coded it. I'm bettin though that's about the extent of your "technical knowledge"...using prebuilt, cookie cutter forms that *SOMEONE ELSE* coded and then just slopping them all together haphazardly.
*sigh*
It really is so typical though...reminds me of the goobers who run around trying to claim that Flash is inherently more bloated than HTML...LOL...boy I never get tired of that one. ^__^
Since you're obviously not interested in knowing how it can be done, well...I guess I won't bother trying to explain it to you...after all, you think you know it all, eh flunkie?
He, he, he...the truly sad thing about this kid is that there's not exactly some shortage of material on the grid about how you can use XML in place of SQL, where, why, how, etc, etc, etc...hell there's like entire fucking websites SOLELY DEVOTED to the subject! LOL