> Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 17:16:04 -0500
> From: Ross Singer <[log in to unmask]>
>
>> Just the same as most people wouldn't write their own SOAP library
>> to implement SRW or their own XML parser, most people won't write
>> their own CQL parser ... and don't have to, as there are existing
>> open source implementations for the major languages.
>
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=cql+parser+php&btnG=Search
>
> http://www.google.com/search?q=cql+parser+ruby&hl=en&lr=&start=0&sa=N
It's a fair cop. Rob should have said "many major languages" or
something similar.
> I note this page:
> http://www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/zing/srw/tools.html
>
> mentions Java, Perl and Python (is there no C parser?).
Yes, there is: the YAZ toolkit has contained a CQL parser since
release 2.0 of February 2003. It's an oversight that the page you
cite doesn't mention this (which I'm sure Ray will fix RSN).
> To say there are parsers "for the major languages" is not only
> exclusive, it's incorrect (.Net?). Or, rather, if it's not
> incorrect, where are they?
You're right; the core group of SRU implementors have, so far, built
CQL parsers only for the languages that they themselves do the bulk of
their work in.
However, let me put this offer on the table. We at Index Data will
guarantee to deliver a working, tested, standards-compliant,
GPL-licenced CQL parser for any language at a cost of no more than
$10,000 US, probably much less depending on the language. I know
that's not the same thing as the parsers being there today, but I hope
it goes some way to assuaging your concerns. At least it should put
an upper limit on development cost.
_/|_ ___________________________________________________________________
/o ) \/ Mike Taylor <[log in to unmask]> http://www.miketaylor.org.uk
)_v__/\ "You can't have free speech without responsibility, and anyone in
such a high profile position has to know the difference between
saying what you want and saying what you ought" -- Geoff Thompson,
acting FA chairman, shows his ignorance.
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