In a recent post on the Python XML-SIG mailing list, Guido van Rossum, Python's creator, expressed concern that Python was no longer seeing much activity in the development of XML tools.

The ensuing discussion discussed ways that Python might be made more accessible for the XML developer.

Paul Prescod didn't think there was too much to worry about: the lack of recent activity on Python XML infrastructure meant that Python had a mature XML product.

Other major points to come from the discussion were:

• The Python XML distribution needs to be easier to install
• Although there are some very powerful Python-based XML tools out there, for example FourThought's XSLT processor, the standard of documentation was generally poor

On a higher level, the Python-based content management system Zope could have an important part to play in the XML world if it can develop features comparable to those in commercial object-oriented XML servers.