From: robin@utafll.uta.edu (Robin Cover)
Newsgroups: comp.text.sgml
Subject: Exoterica Corporation XGML Kernel Parser
Date: 9 Apr 92 04:41:28 GMT
Organization: UT Arlington


The following excerpts from a press release and from "A Message From
the President" outline Exoterica Corporation's development of a new
SGML parser.  The strategy adopted in the new parser lays heavy
emphasis upon the idea that SGML applications should be in intimate
conversation with the SGML parser.  No mention is made in the announcement
about optional SGML features which hitherto (in the XGML Engine) have been
unsupported, (eg., CONCUR -- which the TEI feels can be pressed into
service for some ubiquitous problems in representing multiple concurrent
document hierarchies defined by alternative "viewpoints" of analysts
and so forth).  Private communication with Exoterica Corporation leads
me to believe that satisfying the Standard's (ISO 8879:1986, amended)
requirements on CONCUR will eventually be supported by the XGML Kernel
parser implementation -- if not in a straightforward manner, then insofar
as several support mechanisms underlying LINK, CONCUR and SUBDOC may be
unified in XGML Kernel facilities; this design should make interesting
kinds of processing beyond CONCUR, LINK and SUBDOC straightforward.

(rcc)

<from.the.press.release>

Exoterica Corporation Develops New Advanced SGML Parser

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- February 1, 1992 -- Exoterica
Corporation today announced the development of the XGML Kernel,
an advanced function validating SGML parser which conforms to ISO
8879.  The XGML Kernel will replace the older XGML Engine which
is at the core of Exoterica's XGML Translator and XGML OmniMark
applications, as well as several OEM applications.

The XGML Kernel is the result of six years of experience with
SGML technology and applications.  Like the XGML Engine, the XGML
Kernel is intended to be embedded in larger applications such as
SGML editors and translators and has a well defined Application
Programmer's Interface (API).  Unlike the XGML engine, which was
built primarily for "batch" applications and modified over time
to support interactive applications, the XGML Kernel is is
specifically designed for real-time and response-sensitive
interactive applications. According to John McFadden, President
of Exoterica, "In designing the XGML Kernel we have paid close
attention to the needs of WYSIWYG SGML editors, SFQL CD-ROM
client/server systems, and advanced SGML sensitive data base
systems. Just the speed of the XGML Kernel will be close to
thirty times faster than the XGML Engine, ten times faster than
the fastest commercial parser out there now. It will be years
before we see applications which can exploit all of the exciting
new functionality of the XGML Kernel." </>

<from.another.anouncement>

"The XGML Kernel will replace the XGML Engine and is the
culmination of two years of research.  It is no longer sufficient
that an SGML parser simply conform to ISO 8879.  The unique
architecture of the Kernel will also provide the speed and
flexibility critical to the emerging applications of the 1900's,
both our own and those of our OEM partners. . .The techniques we
are using to develop the Kernel are validation of SGML as a
unique and powerful technology.  The Kernel is being developed as
an SGML document.  Using SGML and XGML OmniMark we have created
specialized Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) languages
and tools which allow us to fully integrate the documentation of
the Kernel with its source code.  SGML allows us to organize the
source code in a manner based solely on our needs and not the
needs of a particular programming language.  OmniMark programs
generate several classes and types of documentation, both
engineering and end user.  Other OmniMark programs reorganize our
CASE source code and translate it to C, a common low level
programming language available on virtually all machines." </>

Exoterica also offers comprehensive courses for individuals or
organizations on basic and advanced concepts of markup language
design, and implementation in SGML.  Aspects of document design
and markup language design consonant with the philosophy of the
XGML Kernel's implementation are treated in these courses.

Contact:  Wayne Lucky or Eric Skinner, Exoterica Corporation, 383
Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4R4; Tel: (1 613) 722-
1700, FAX (1 613) 722-5706; Email: ers@xgml.com (Internet).
Newsgroups: comp.text.sgml