DOCBOOK-APPS: SGML vs XML

[Disclaimer, preamble; The following is a brief 
summary of some points

 I am trying to clarify, these may be 
incorrect.  I disclaim their validity.

 I would appreacheate some comments regarding 
this]

 

I know this is a well contested argument, but this 
is not a troll or anything like that,

I also understand that there is probably no 
definitive answer.

 

I am creating a document on how to set up an SGML 
editing suite for Windows or

Unix for the average computer beginner.  I 
have begun to wonder whether I should

be encouraging the use of SGML instead of opting 
for XML because I would not

want to disadvantage a group of people by getting 
them into using SGML Docbook

instead of XML DocBook. Please bear in mind that I 
desire to:

 

Create printable output and online output in the 
following formats:

 

HTML, DVI, PS, PDF, RTF, TeX

 

(TeX was included, although I understand this can 
only be a pseudo-tex,

 not real TeX?, but a version which is used by 
JadeTeX as a sort-of

 translation format?)

 

Validation would be performed by onsgmls for both 
formats

 

For SGML I would use openjade for the HTML, RTF and 

pseudo-TeX, then the JadeTeX macro pack for the pseudo-tex 

to pdf or dvi, then dvi to 
ps, and maybe pstopdf.

 

For XML I would use xsltproc for the HTML and FO 
output

FOP for FO to PDF, MIF, PCL or plain text. JFOR for 
FO to

RTF. Or passiveTeX to create PDF output from 
FO then pdf2ps to

create PS?

 

My advantages and disadvantages to going XML are as 
follows:

[Note, this is XML and SGML primarily in the 
context of DocBook]

 

Advantages:

 

XML is the "wave of the future", we can either ride 
it or sink?

XML is more Internet oriented, the future is more 
Internet oriented?

XML is simpler and perhaps less cumbersome than 
SGML?

XML is easier to write tools for so the future will 
bring a bounty of them?

XML implements Unicode which is rapidly becoming 
the new standard?

The SGML DocBook will eventually 
dissappear.

 

Disadvantages:

 

SGML is a maturer technology hence is regarded as 
better?

The SGML DocBook toolchain is easier to configure 
and setup?

It is much easier to create printable output using 
the SGML toolchain?

The XML tools are mostly written in JAVA which is 
slow?

There are tools available to convert SGML to XML 
anyway so this is no bother?

The DocBook XML syntax is so similar to the DocBook 
SGML syntax

that conversion would be no bother?

 

So it does actually seem as if the XML option would 
be viable, but

perhaps a tutorial for both would be 
better.

 

Regards

 

PKL