[Lazarus] Why was XML format chosen for storing settings in Lazarus IDE?

[Marco van de Voort]

On Fri, Jun 18, 2010 at 02:08:38PM +0200, Graeme Geldenhuys wrote:
> >
> > The simple reason is that .ini is one level only, and XML has an infinite
> > nesting depth.
> 
> Technically yes, but also no.  For example. 'regedit' in Microsoft
> Windows can export the registry (a f***ken huge tree and garbled mess)
> to a .reg text files which is in fact a INI file. They use nesting as
> follows, which could very easy be added to TINIFile (and I'm actually
> thinking of doing this - see below).
> 
> --------------------------
> [Level1]
> Version=8
> 
> [Level1\Level2]
> Company=Widgets Inc.
> 
> [Level1\Level2\Level3]
> FullName=John Doe
> Age=35
> --------------------------

Yes. You can always try to map something multilevel on what it is not. But
that is not the point.
 
> The TINIFile's Section support could be extended to use '\' which
> means no real change needed, or implement a dot notation. eg: A nested
> section or value can be referenced as Level1.Version or
> Level1.Level2.Level3.FullName

It would be a freak format. Better use something standarized.

I think that is a high price for notepad editability.

If user editability matters so much to you, make a simple treeview based
editor.