XML
Well Formed Versus Valid XML and the Difference in Practice
Well formed means the syntax parses, valid means it follows a DTD or XSD. Ten broken files and two schemas run through xmllint show what each catches.
6 min read
Tag
comparison
58 posts
Excel
XLS Versus XLSX Versus XLSB and Which to Hand Over
Compare the XLS, XLSX and XLSB Excel formats on limits, size, macros and library support, detect which one a file really is, and pick one to hand over.
8 min read
XML
When XML Is Still the Right Format and When It Is Not
Documents with inline markup, schemas that partners must honor, signatures and long-lived standards keep XML in use. A checklist of five situations.
6 min read
XML
XML Versus Protocol Buffers for Services and Messages
50,000 orders in four formats: protobuf was 5.1 MB, JSON 10.8 MB, XML 14.2 MB, and it parsed in 9 ms against 161 for XML. What that buys and costs.
5 min read
CSV
Choosing Column Names Users Recognize in CSV Imports
Name CSV columns in the user's words, keep a stable internal key and accept aliases on import. A mapping function tested on three realistic headers.
7 min read
Excel
Choosing Excel Chart Types for Query Results That Read
Choose an Excel chart type from the shape of your query result: line, column, bar, stacked, scatter, histogram or table, with rules and the mistakes to avoid.
7 min read
YAML
YAML 1.1 Versus 1.2 and Why the Difference Really Matters
The same 33 scalar values loaded by a 1.1 parser and a 1.2 parser: booleans, octal, base 60 and floats. Which libraries implement which, and how to stay safe.
5 min read
CSV
Choosing Between csvkit and Miller for Everyday CSV Work
csvkit and Miller timed on the same 200,000-row file. Type inference makes csvkit's sort, stat and JSON commands 100 times slower and can rewrite your dates.
6 min read
Excel
Access Versus SQLite Versus PostgreSQL for a Small App
Compare Microsoft Access, SQLite and PostgreSQL for a small team replacing a spreadsheet, by users, platform, interface, limits, safety and upgrade path.
7 min read
ExcelGuide
When a Spreadsheet Has Become a Database and What to Do
How to tell that an Excel file now behaves as a database, choose SQLite, Access or PostgreSQL, design tables, migrate safely and keep Excel as a reader.
17 min read
XML
Choosing Between XSLT XQuery and a Script for XML Jobs
The same grouping job in XSLT 1.0, XSLT 2.0, XQuery and Python gave the same revenue to the cent. How the four compare on speed, length, exactness and fit.
6 min read
CSV
CSVLint and Other Validators for CSV Files Compared
Four CSV validators run on the same broken files: qsv validate, csvkit csvclean, CSVLint and Frictionless. What each reports, how it exits and which to use.
7 min read