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[Momeka_]

I usually use XML for storing away stats for players, enemies etc. At least when I work with someone else, saves time from having to explain where the variables are in the code.

[darklight]

(replying late to this thread in the hope I'll have the last word  )

XML is human readable in that a human should be able to look at an XML document & understand it.  In the same way a human cannot look at a binary file and understand it.

If you cant read XML, or you can read a binary file, you are doing it wrong.

[Mikademus]

Aargh, the debate has opened again!

XML is a trap. It is standard and seems an easy enough format. Over time your data files increase in complexity and suddenly you avoid opening your XML files because they're a horror for human eyes to parse and a drain to update manually. You find you need to make tools to update your data files!

Point is: Small data files usually don't need XML, it is overkill. Large data files become unwieldy in XML without tools to edit them. XML is only really useful if you write a tool and need an format to save its data in, not the other way around.

For basic data parsing that should remain human-readable and human-updatable in the long run without tools you should use something like JSON (or YAML) or even stick to INI.

[st33d]

Necro-posting without merit is not allowed on this forum.

Locking thread. Sorry.