Welcome to CompSci497: Advanced XML Programming with XmlPL. This is a new course designed to teach you about a new Open-Source programming language, data description languages in general, XML and a touch of software engineering and compiler design.
Today XML is widely used and accepted as a standard. Despite this fact few people in the industry seem to really understand what the hype is all about. This class will attempt to cut through the hype around XML and get to the real reasons XML and data description languages are useful. You will be introduced to XmlPL, a powerful tool for manipulating XML data. By the end of the course you should have a solid understanding of XML technologies and a few more tricks in your bag that will make you a better and more marketable software developer.
Class will be held for 8 weeks every Friday, except for February 16th, from 11:40am-1:30pm in room MEC-309. There will be a 15 minute break from 12:30pm to 12:45pm.
Grading will be based on attendance and completion of the programming project. There is no specific requirement for attendance, but the more class you miss the more you will have to make up in the programming project. That said, this is only a one credit course so if you attend class regularly the programming project will not be too difficult. Grading is pass/fail.
Your programming project must be pre-approved. For a project to be approved it should be useful, interesting, appropriate for the language, and somewhat challenging. The program does not have to be long in order to meet these criteria and could be only a few hundred lines. In addition, your source code must be readable and documented. You may retain the copyright to your source code, but all projects must be publishable on the XmlPL website under the GPL license. Deadlines are at the beginning of class on the date declared. If you cannot think of anything I will be glad to help you choose a project.
This document was created using a simple XmlPL program.