XML 'Violence' Meme

The cluster revolves around the popular 'XML is like violence—if it doesn't solve your problem, you're not using enough of it' joke, with debates on XML's usability, advantages like XPath, drawbacks such as complexity and XSLT, and its ongoing relevance.

➡️ Stable 1.5x Programming Languages
6,433
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4004
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Keywords

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Sample Comments

atmavatar • Mar 13, 2025 • View on HN

XML is like violence: if it doesn't solve your problem, you aren't using enough of it.

thedanbob • Jan 20, 2021 • View on HN

XML is like violence: if it doesn't solve your problem, you're not using enough of it.

crabmusket • Apr 15, 2025 • View on HN

XML was a good idea ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

anaphor • Aug 23, 2013 • View on HN

Doesn't this defeat some of the advantages of using XML though? Like Xpath?

setr • Dec 12, 2019 • View on HN

What makes you think xml isn't kludgy

darthtrevino • Jan 22, 2009 • View on HN

XML is like violence; If it doesn’t solve all your problems, you’re not using enough of it

zmix • Nov 2, 2020 • View on HN

Where is XML a usability nightmare?

imcotton • Dec 10, 2018 • View on HN

Yes, because XML is too old to us.

dmje • Jun 20, 2023 • View on HN

"Oh great, XSLT" said no-one, literally ever

didntreadarticl • Feb 10, 2023 • View on HN

Thats "XML - the religion"