XOM API for Processing XML with Java

[Elliotte Rusty Harold <elharo AT metalab.unc.edu>]

At 9:47 PM +0000 2/9/04, Bill de hÓra wrote:

> I consider namespace scenarios convenience 
> clutter for the most part. But then again, with 
> this line of thought, most OO methods are 
> convenience clutter including getChildCount (why 
> not just compute the count?).

Because it would be hugely more expensive. 
getChildCount() is O(1). Iterating through the 
elements until you got the last one would be O(N) 
with a big juicy multiplier for catching the 
exception. getChildCount() is  more convenient, 
faster, and more consistent with good OOP 
principles. (Specifically use exceptions ionly 
for exceptional cases.)

--

  Elliotte Rusty Harold
  elharo AT metalab.unc.edu
  Effective XML (Addison-Wesley, 2003)
  http://www.cafeconleche.org/books/effectivexml
  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D0321150406/ref%3Dnosim/cafeaulaitA