The author argues that XML should be reconsidered as a practical domain-specific language (DSL) for modern software development, based on their experience building the IRS's open-source Tax Withholding Estimator. The tool uses XML configurations to represent the US tax code and calculate tax obligations via a logic engine called the Fact Graph. While XML is often seen as outdated, the post highlights its utility for cross-platform declarative specifications in public sector software.
Background
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language often used for data representation and configuration, but it has been largely overshadowed by formats like JSON in modern web development. Domain-specific languages (DSLs) are specialized languages designed for specific application domains.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- Mar 14, 2026 at 03:47 AM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10