Re: Should the format used by NSArchiver be changed to XML?

[Gregory Casamento]

Willem,

--- Willem Rein Oudshoorn <woudshoo@xs4all.nl> wrote:
<snip>
> > This change would have the following effects:
> > 
> > Advantages:
> > 1) It would allow better portability of archived objects across platforms
> > between different version of GNUstep.
> 
> Why?  I think the NSArchiver format is already cross hardware-platform
> (I mean GNUstep on other computers) and I do not think there are
> problems with different versions of GNUstep.

Actually, I corrected myself on this in a later email. :)

> > 2) It would be possible to write a framework on MOSX to allow compatibility
> > between programs written in GNUstep and MOSX.
> 
> Yes, but just letting NSArchiver output XML does not work.  Because it will
> output GNUstep base/gui classes and the format is tied to the GNUstep 
> internals.  So if you want cross platform you have to map GNUstep
> classes to some platform neutral representation.  

I believe that we should examine what is being archived in each case.   I don't
think that anything gnustep "specific" is really being stored.   Only enough
information to recreate the class.   

> > Disadvantages:
> > 1) Archives would occupy more space as some of the binary content would
> need to
> > be encoded (probably using base64).
> 
> 2) Will be slower.

True, but by how much?  Would the added flexibility be worth the sacrifice?

> > Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts on this.
> 
> I think the cross platform, like sharing archives between MacOSX and
> GNUstep, is a good idea.  But in my opinion it is better to write a
> small framework/subproject that will do this for you and leave
> the current behaviour alone.

That's food for thought.


=====
Gregory John Casamento
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