Suggest: Using XML for TS2 Server Database

[CHaSE]

As the subject says I think it would be nice to use XML format to store server database.

This idea came into my mind when I found out I have to DL some third-party database management program just to change my superadmin password. Also constant cries I see on the forum about database being lost or corrupt also suggest to use more open and convinient format to store it.

[mCn]

I think the point in using a sql database is performance.

[CHaSE]

I think that one one hand the database for a typical TS2 server is both very small and simple, and on the other hand server database isn't something being accessed and updated too frequently.

And, so to say, on third hand a person with at least minimal programming experience is able to code access to this small and simple database with appropriate performance, especially since processing of the server configuration definitely takes much less CPU time than voice processing.

[woutur]

The server isn't proccesing voice.
Just streams and redirects data.

[CHaSE]

Nonetheless.

[Judas]

I guess that SQL was choosen due to the demand of the people using TeamSpeak. People are simple more familiar with SQL and it doesnt require to program anything yourself if you simple want to access or change anything.

To be honest, i think that XML is much too "complicated" and I don't really see a what the benefit of XML would be besides the 2% who would write their own tools to access the data.

But thats just my oppinion.

[CHaSE]

The one of the very points of XML is that you don't need any tools to write/read XML data for it is a plain text, unlike any SQL or similar binary format. You don't need to have any specific knowledge to edit simple XML document either because XML tags speak for themselves. Unlike SQL and its request language.

I simply think that for an average gamer who's not burdened with knowledge of SQL it would be a lot easier to edit a simple and obvious text in Notepad - say,
<SuperAdminPassword>pass</SuperAdminPassword>
- than to enter in SQLite a line full of sacred meaning - "update ts2_clients set s_client_password = 'newpass' where s_client_name = 'superadmin';".

Just an IMHO of course.

[Judas]

I understand quite well that XML is easier to read and manipulate if you are doing it manually. Yet most of the people who were asking for access to the Database didn't have simple manipulations in mind. They want full access to all the data in order to implement parts of the info in their own homepage or even write their own Admintool.

While SQL is pretty basic for every serious "Webmaster" (at least the simple querys are), XML would require a new tool either provided by someone or written by onself, to change or read specific data from within a script.

I think i am quite aware of the advantages of XML, yet I dont really see its use for Teamspeak. The developers would have to rewrite all their code for accessing the database. Even defining the dtd might be quite a little bit challanging and in the end you dont gain much as you actually have a file that is less open to public than an sql database is. SQL is fairly wide spread and a lot of people have to means to work with SQL databases while XML always requires special programs to access (unless you just take vi, notepad or anything similar)

XML's strength lies in the open document structure which makes it easy to read for everyone. Yet the whole content of the Teamspeak database is public and easy to read aswell... its not as if we are facing a nasty company trying to make their file format and database as cryptic and uncomprehensive as possible.

But hey.. i can live with XML aswell... there are some people saying that XML is the future and that might even be true. I am just a little bit sceptic with XML-ing everything if there already is a good solution.