XML and XSL tools and documentation

I am finally getting closer to the fun part now: creating web sites using the XML and XSL/XSLT technologies. First I will present the tools I am using, then the documentation where I am looking for answers to my questions. Then I will create the files and automate all the transforms.

The tools

I am using both free and commercial tools when writing XML. I'll only look at the free ones here though. I'll leave the commercial alternatives for a future post.

XML editor

VIM

Free, powerful, cross-platform, with very nice syntax highlight and auto indent. On Windows the VI idiosyncrasies are easy to go around and after that it works pretty much like any other editor. Except that when you immense amounts of power are available to you when you need them.

XSL processor

• Saxon - requires:
• Java Platform

I use XSLT 2.0 and Saxon was one of the first XSLT 2.0 processors available. The B (Basic) version is free and open source. It's writtten in Java, so it requires an installed Java Runtime Environment.

Build tool

• Ant - requires:
• Java Platform

Automation is my best friend. Ant allows me to call the other tools from the command line with a single unified command and entry point. Also written in Java, it needs the Platform.

Important: In order to be able to use saxon from Ant it must be installed as an Ant extension.

The documentation

XSLT Tutorial

Chapter 17 of the XML Bible - freely available online

It talks about XSL 1.0, but the knowledge still applies. Great tutorial for the complete beginner. Useful when I want a concept explained from the ground up.

XSLT Questions and Answers

XSLT Q&A

Lots of tips and tricks, hacks and ideas. Great help when I'm stuck, otherwise interesting reading.

Read on: Starting out with XML and XSL.

First Posted: September 29th, 2005 - Thursday.
Last Updated: October 27th, 2005 - Thursday.