Netscape to support XML 1.0 in Communicator 5

Though Netscape and Microsoft can't seem to agree on a standard for DynamicHTML (DHTML), the two companies do agree on XML, the eXtensible MarkupLanguage. When Communicator 5.0 ships this summer, Web developers may havesomething to cheer about: Netscape is going to support XML in its new lineof browsers and it will be compatible with Microsoft's offering. Microsoftintroduced XML support in Internet Explorer 4.0, though the support is based on pre-XML 1.0, the version Netscape will support. Microsoft haspledged to upgrade XML support in IE 4.0 to the XML 1.0 standard. Best of all, developers can get an early peek at XML in Communicator 5.0 on Tuesday, when Netscape releases the source code to the first beta version.

This is important news for Web developers because Netscape has always takenliberties with Internet standards. But Netscape's Ramanathan Guha insists that XML support in Communicator 5.0 will be completely standards-based,with "no hacks."

"[Web developers] will be the ones to decide how XML will be used in Navigator," Guha said. "The developer community for XML has the ownership rights and Netscape is completely behind you. Expect something much betterin a couple months, and I'm looking at you guys to do it. We can make thishappen really fast."

Web development Glasnost? Anything could happen