Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

"The tech folks", "text based therefore simple", suggesting anybody ever used XML and simple in one sentence, implying http would be better off binary, … how can such a small comment pack such a misleading punch.

Impressive, in a way.

The point isn't text → simple (semantics), it's text > binary (syntax).

Complexity is mostly a property of semantics, text vs binary is about the syntax used to convey those semantics. For the same semantics, text is easier to debug than binary. That's all.

XMPP bad. Binary XMPP worse. Etc.




ASCII-hex encoded binary XMPP, mmm... "a018ab978d9877c6" is still text, after all!




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2025 batch! Applications are open till Aug 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: