hey, wasn't sure where we left this discussion, so I wanted to post a little update.

This summer, my intern, Chris Hanrath, did an analysis of the standard pattern elements in a number of well known UI pattern libraries and also took a look at PLML as currently implemented (in a 1.x version) at welie.com.

My goal is to employ a very similar (as close as possible) version of PLML in the upcoming redesigned Yahoo pattern library and thus - by converging with Welie - create some momentum for de facto standard.

One reason why I care about this is that we have several distinct pattern collections inside Yahoo and I'd like to be able to share or migrate patterns more readily.

Folks working on Fluid's open source design pattern library also seem interested in exploring this possibility.

Furthermore, I was at PLoP last month and the non-UI patterns people there also seemed interested in (a) forging stronger ties with the UI design pattern community and (b) looking into the use of PLML as well (in which case we might need to take care not to "tune it" too closely to the current tradition of UI patterns but allow it to be flexible enough to embrace the wider world of patterns (which have many of the same sharing and management issues we face).

As soon as I get a moment, I'm going to post some of our working documents to the appropriate forum at Yahoo's library, at which point I'll post a link here and ask for comments and feedback.

    --xian



dexterstonehaus wrote:

Hello group!

I'm working with a group to build yet another pattern library and want
to make sure that it's aligned to add to the existing set of
libraries, rather than duplicate.

I've been ramping up on the recent history of UI/Web PL's and found a
slide in one of Christian's presentations that briefly touched upon
formats for sharing patterns - PLMLx and a possible Microformat.

My initial exploration of PLMLx 1.0 seems to suggest it hasn't been
worked on in 3+ years. I know a few libraries are using PLML which
suggests its the prime (if only) candidate for a sharing format, but
surely there must be some criticism and room for improvement :P

Anyhow, I'm interested in any sort of information about initiatives to
combine efforts and would love to hear from anyone about other issues
besides technology that are being discussed.

Cheers.
-Ryan