A document format is a tool for sharing knowledge and, as such, should be as simple and accessible as possible in relation to the complexity of the document content itself. This remains true even when the format is based on an XML schema that is hidden from users when the document is displayed on screen. […]
Are they referring to OpenXML, the format used in modern office documents?
What are they suggesting? To build a new standard set of specs to replace it?
For what it matters, without reading the 8000 pages of specs I still managed to programmatically produce a spreadsheet document from scratch. It took me a few tens of hours, that’s true, but it wasn’t that difficult after all.
Are they referring to OpenXML, the format used in modern office documents?
What are they suggesting? To build a new standard set of specs to replace it?
For what it matters, without reading the 8000 pages of specs I still managed to programmatically produce a spreadsheet document from scratch. It took me a few tens of hours, that’s true, but it wasn’t that difficult after all.
They are suggesting Microsoft should use their own standards in a way that doesn’t require a bug for bug reimplementation of MS Office to read.