Configurable Software using XML and XSD

I would like to share with you the cost advantages of configurable software using XML and XSD and the beauty of such a solution.
Working as a consultant I design and develop software. At the same time I also maintain and enhance existing software .
I have noticed that most of the time we are reinventing the wheel. There is an application that needs to read a tab separated flat file, remove a column from the file and store it in a folder. The complexity of the application is that it has to process various groups of files. The files are grouped by a product code and file types. The column to be removed varies for each file type and each product code. The typical method would be to write one processing logic per product and file type.
The approach I took in this case is to write a generic processor based on an xml configuration. The processor would read the xml configuration to find out how to process the files. I don't intend to explain the details of the solution here due to confidentiality agreements.
The way the solution works is that when a new product code is added with a new set of files to be processed all that needs to be done is to add the product and the processing rules to the xml configuration file. So no program changes required.
The beauty of xml and xsd is that the person modifying the xml configuration can immediately find out if he/she has made a mistake by validating the xml against the xsd.
The cost advantage of the above solution is the saving of development time. In the time that it takes to develop individual classes for a number of products a configurable solution can be developed. So there is no addition development time required. When a new product has to be added there is zero development time.
Many people will say, "What is so great about this? We do it all the time." Well Good for you. I write this because there a lots of solutions I have come across that do not follow this strategy and I assume it is because people think it is too costly or because it is never considered as an option.

Links

Technical Links
===============
z/OS concepts for Java developers
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/eserver/library/es-zos/?ca=dgr-jw22Jave4Zos

SAML
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAML

WebServices
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/webservices/edu/ws-dw-ws-understand-web-services1.html

Using Spring and Hibernate with WebSphere Application Server
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/websphere/techjournal/0609_alcott/0609_alcott.html


Complexity Theory: A Modern Approach
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/theory/complexity/



Miscellaneous Links
=========================
Malayalam Songs
http://www.devaragam.com/vbscript/MusicNew.aspx?MovieId=754


Division Of consumer Affairs - Online Complaint Form
http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/ocp/ocpform.htm

Tenants' Rights in New Jersey Chapter Index
http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/placeilive/irentmyhome/tenantsrights/

NJPAC
http://www.njpac.org/default.asp?Trying=ON

ANCIENT HIGH TECHNOLOGY
http://s8int.com/

Kerala Government
http://www.kerala.gov.in/

Brain and Cognitive Sciences
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Brain-and-Cognitive-Sciences/9-66JFall-2004/Readings/index.htm

Poetry
http://poetry.eserver.org/

Representational State Transfer (REST)

http://www.ics.uci.edu/~fielding/pubs/dissertation/top.htm

The pickle jar

The house is at the intersection of Darwin and Union ave. We often saw the house when we went to the Tryon park. Every time we passed it we always stop to marvel at how nicely the grass was maintained and especially how beautiful the small garden surroundng the house was.

One day while waiting for the bus I saw some one wiping the window pane from the inside. All I could see was a pair of hands. I wondered who lived there. Obviously some one who was very particular about appearance. Some one neat and tidy and with a sense of beauty.

As days went by the house became an ordinary sight and not a special one, just like all the wonderful things in life and I stopped noticing it. Then all of a sudden I saw an old lady walking out of the house and down the steps. She came forward and stood right across the street and then I saw that she was holding a pickle jar in her hand.I also noticed how frail looking she was.

I thought to myself, "She must be going over to her friends place with that pickle jar. What a strange thing to do at 8'O Clock in the morning. I watched along with the other people who were waiting for the bus to New York. She was very careful and did not cross till there wasn't a vehicle in sight.

Then she slowly reached our side of the road and asked some one, "Could you please open this pickle jar?" I was shocked. As I watched the guy open the jar with the help of a napkin and other people rushing to help her back across the street, many thoughts raced through my mind. Was that lady living all alone in that house? How did she manage? I had a very frustrating experience when I tried to open a pickle jar and I had seen a show on comedy central that commented on the very fact. It was really funny.I felt sorry for her and all other people like her. I thought of my parents and Iby's parents who lived half way across the globe. But it wasn't my fault, it was the pickle bottlers' fault.

By now the old lady had waved to all of us and went back inside the house.