Worse is better: JSON versus XML

This article by Mark Seemann is part of a 'Worse is better' series, arguing that XML is superior to JSON for most data-interchange tasks. It challenges common perceptions that XML is inherently heavy, noting that SOAP's complexity was not due to XML itself. The author highlights XML's advantages: gradual enhancement, standard schema languages (XSD), query languages, streaming parsers, and maturity. JSON is criticized for lacking comments and formal specifications, leading to implicit contracts per Hyrum's law. The article is relevant to IT/technology, focusing on data formats, software engineering, and best practices.