OOXML OPS and the GPL: A disappointing surprise from the SFLC | Gray Matter

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:56:35 -0000

Scott B comment on the OOXML OPS and GPL controversy. Great comments from Bruce Perens also.

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

I view the spec as confusing, obtuse, error-ridden, x86-centric, incomplete, and redundant. Microsoft sat on the board of ODF for _years_ without offering any help on the minor items ODF didn't provide that they wanted. Now that governments start pressing for permanent standards on document storage, MS throws out this half-baked item and expects a reward for good behavior. Maybe somebody on the board of directors at our company likes it, but the technical folks having to add more work are less than happy about this beast.

If they had to go with XML, couldn't they at least have allowed standard XML with attributes and the like instead of x86 specific, binary incompatible, past-version deprecating, standard-avoiding, crash on normal XML.. ... mess... that they have offered for consumption? Oh.. but wait, I'm sure the BRM fixed that in the week given. I'm sure the pretty version will show up any day now.

Tags: gpl grey-matter iso microsoft ooxml ops

Posted by: garyedwards

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OOXML OPS and the GPL: A disappointing surprise from the SFLC | Gray Matter