[Oisf-wg-configuration_language] Configuration Structure

[Nick Rogness]

I agree.  I use vi exclusively.  Xml sucks for this purpose but the industry as a whole has adopted xml for these type of things.  Especially if you want other softwares to integrate with the engine in the future.

Maybe the question should be who is the intended user base in the short and long term?  If it is just unix geeks like us, then XML is not the answer.  Then again, snort is already built for unix geeks.  Is the goal to just develop a snort++ or address a more broad audience??  

Sorry, I'm trying to think ahead.  Just need some clarification.  YAML does look interesting.

Nick 


-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Jonkman <jonkman at jonkmans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 7:33 AM
To: Discussion about the configuration language and options <oisf-wg-configuration_language at openinfosecfoundation.org>
Subject: Re: [Oisf-wg-configuration_language] Configuration Structure

Have you ever hand-typed out a long xml doc? :) I have, it's not pretty.
In fact it just plain sucks. :)

Great machine language, but not a good human usable language.

YAML looks good. Lots of support, human readable, not a lot of typing
overhead. Relatively flexible structure.

Matt


Nick Rogness wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 8:39 AM, Victor Julien <victor at inliniac.net> wrote:
>>> In other words, no configuration language exists in our codebase at this
>>> point.
>>>
>>> Since our schedule is pretty tight, this probably means we should go for
>>> existing code for this part of the engine. So suggestions for libraries
>>> are very much appreciated.
> 
>> [SNIP]
>> No one going to speak up about XML?
> 
> This is a no brainer, config should be in XML. Maybe the better
> question should be why NOT use XML for the config syntax?
> 
> As I mentioned on the rules list, using XML gives the engine the
> flexibility to make parsing, integration, and versioning a breeze.
> Using a well known library like libXML2 makes parsing in C fairly
> straight forward.  Additionally, every other language worth a mention
> already have XML libraries so building GUIs and integrating with other
> party's software could be straight forward.
> 
> Nick Rogness
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> Oisf-wg-configuration_language mailing list
> Oisf-wg-configuration_language at openinfosecfoundation.org
> http://lists.openinfosecfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/oisf-wg-configuration_language

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Emerging Threats
Open Information Security Foundation (OISF)
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