|
|
|
21 Oct 2005
Future OPML thoughts
Alex Barnett thinks that the time is right for OPML. That might be true, but it is still unclear why we should use OPML in the first place. Reading Lists is a nice idea, but they can be implemented in RSS as well. I like OPML because it is very easy to create. And it can be used for Wild MicroContent, which I like to see appear on the scene. But it is just very early stage and many elements of the necessary infrastructure are missing.
I am still missing the future looking view on OPML. OPML reminds me a lot of Gopher, but the on the field level and not on the file level. With OPML it is possible to create a lot of structure and have each field link to another structure elsewhere on Internet. OPML could create a web on it’s own. Think of a recipe with fields for ingredients. An ingredient could link to OPMLPedia for an explanation of that ingredient. And the OPMLPedia article is heavyly structure, such that one can go to a producer in the local neighbourhood. Etc, etc.