Style Sheet..

[nardneran]

I'm a new member and totally new to this RML. So, do forgive me for my novice doubts.

First, I was trying to create a small meme in RML.

For that, I read through the RMLIntroduction.pdf and basically I'm a C++ programmer so it took some time for me to get acquainted with XML.
So, now laterally I'm trying to familiarize myself with XML. Then, I just tried to create a meme.

But, I had so many questions.

1) XML requires a stylesheet, so what should we do it in here

2) And what is the editor generally used by others so that I can also use the same

3) Is there any other specific softwares that I need to install to get it running 

4) And finally, can I have an example program to refer with, if any

[Cayle]

I'm a new member and totally new to this RML. So, do forgive me for my novice doubts.

Hi nardneran!  I've got to run and take the kids swimming, so I'll give the super short answer first.  This evening or tomorrow morning I can answer in more detail; especially as D_Order needs this information to continue as well.

First, I was trying to create a small meme in RML.

For that, I read through the RMLIntroduction.pdf and basically I'm a C++ programmer so it took some time for me to get acquainted with XML.
So, now laterally I'm trying to familiarize myself with XML. Then, I just tried to create a meme.

But, I had so many questions.

1) XML requires a stylesheet, so what should we do it in here

Not a stylesheet; but a schema instead.  You can find that here:

http://rulesetmodeling.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/rulesetmodeling/Schemas/RMLDocument.xsd?view=markup&pathrev=105

2) And what is the editor generally used by others so that I can also use the same

For the XML documents, any text editor works.  I use a commercial plugin for Eclipse called XML buddy because it has some nice editing features; such as realtime validation against the schema; but any text editor can work. 

3) Is there any other specific softwares that I need to install to get it running 

That will have to wait a few days.  Angela went through a big code change and the current head revision in SVN does not run.  Then I can walk you through getting angela up and loading metamemes and memes.

4) And finally, can I have an example program to refer with, if any

I'm working on converting an obsolete example to use memes.  I had promised it to D_Order for Friday, but it is still not done.  Tomorrow.  I do have a highly abstract set of examples for the test framework.  In addition to the attached diagram in that post, it links to the XML version of the examples in SVN.

[Edward]

2) And what is the editor generally used by others so that I can also use the same

I've used GEdit a good bit.  I've also used XML Copy Editor.

http://xml-copy-editor.sourceforge.net

It has a nice interface, can validate an XML document against a Schema, and can validate a W3C Schema.  However, I don't think it can generate an XML document from a Schema or a Schema from an XML document.

I haven't tried XPontus, but it looks interesting.

http://xpontus.sourceforge.net

I think it can generate a Schema from an XML document; I don't know if it can generate an XML document from a Schema.

[Cayle]

Finally, I've got proper examples to work with.  The attached files contain the following:

• A PDF with a diagram of the current "Memotica" package.  This is the base set of metamemes that any interpreter would be expected to react to.
• A PDF with a diagram of the current "MemoticaDescriptors" package.  This is essentially a metameme for plain text and our old InternationalizedDescriptors re-rendered in metameme form. 
• A PDF with a diagram of the package created during the intermediate text example on the wiki.  The metameme version supersedes all of the XML written in gray blocks there. 

If you look at the third PDF, it looks nasty at first sight.  Just resolving  "That will be [number] [pluralityCurrency]" accounting for three different currency types and differing grammar between singular and plural fills an A0 poster sheet and requires 50 memes!  It makes the old version of the tutorial templates - which I ranted about long ago - look straightforward in comparison.  I have two things to say about this:

• I broke everything down for extreme modularity and re-usability.  E.g. the currency type argument and the condition that differentiates between one and not one could potentially find wide re-use in a world or even between worlds. 
• Part of making the grammar of memes and metamemes generic and flexible is a price paid in verbosity.  There are several memes in that diagram whose sole purpose is to act as a wrapper for exactly one member.  This is the price we pay for generalized abstraction.  We get flexibility in return.  I do think we should revisit the question of perhaps having specialized editors for the various standard meme types.  We could start by re-contacting that author of Flamewind.

[Edward]

Part of making the grammar of memes and metamemes generic and flexible is a price paid in verbosity.  There are several memes in that diagram whose sole purpose is to act as a wrapper for exactly one member.  This is the price we pay for generalized abstraction.  We get flexibility in return. 

Yes, the same thing is true in writing documentation (or anything else):  You have to choose between clarity and brevity.  I think it's the right choice.  Clarity and flexibility are more important here than brevity.

I do think we should revisit the question of perhaps having specialized editors for the various standard meme types.  We could start by re-contacting that author of Flamewind.

How many editors would we have?

[Cayle]

How many editors would we have?

For heavy duty metameme and meme design, we'd need a dia plugin or vast improvements to what I've got for visio.

A condition editor.  Fairly simple needs as conditions are not terribly complex.

A conversation editor - either a modified Flamewind, or something similar.

An action Editor - Again actions are simple.

An agent editor - this one might be tricky as it should ideally also access all of the enhancements simultaniously; perhaps via filter levels.  E.g. someone using the Epoch physics package (which I plan to release as an example), which enhances agent extensively, should be able to access both the raw agent as well as the enhancements while editing.  In fact, for the average user the enhancements should be streamlined.

All of the above need to be able to access the RML Repository and probably need to bring up the core angela engine in the background in order to access the template repository.

Edit:

0.1 will be blood sweat and text editors.