DocBook versus DITA
DocBook
DocBook is a markup language and is used for technical documentation of all sorts.
It allows users to create documents which can be published in many formats such as HTML and PDF without making any changes to the source code.
The DocBook format is based on XML, which makes it easier to read by both humans and machines.
Advantages of DocBook:
Same document can be translated to both web-based and printed document format.User can concentrate on the content rather than its form.Has very good documentation. Provides good support.Is very useful for delivering documents such as single books.
Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA)
DITA is a recent innovation in XML publishing.
The name stands for:
Darwin: Uses the principles of specialization and inheritance.Information Typing: Identifies topics that contain different types of information such as concept, task, and reference.Architecture: Provides space for new applications and also for extension within the available applications.DITA works on a modular approach. In DITA, each component of information is considered as a topic. These topics can be combined and reused to form documents. DITA has a number of topic types, like task, concept, and reference. A task topic describes the procedure to accomplish a task. Concept consists of definitions, rules, etc. A reference topic explains instructions and various reference materials. You can define a new topic type by specialization. Specialization allows you to create a new topic based on the properties of an existing topic.
Advantages of DITA:
Encapsulation: Each person is responsible for their job, which increases security. For example, a person creating a topic needs to know the elements pertaining to the topic type, whereas the person using the topic needs to know only how to use it.Polymorphism: Topics can be created as more generic categories for common use.Topics can be reused easily.XML can be modified easily to suit user needs.
Differences between DocBook and DITA
DocBook has been available for many years and is robust and strong compared to DITA. DocBook was initially designed for print and PDF output, but it has now expanded to generate online Help. DITA was not designed for printed output, but was created to use the concept of topic and topic types.DocBook uses hierarchy whereas DITA makes separate topics, which can be combined as required.DocBook has a fixed set of elements. DITA can be extended, allowing the user to add more elements as per individual needs.DocBook has good documentation whereas DITA is too new to be well documented.Expansion of XML is better supported by DITA than DocBook.
Conclusion
DITA makes it easier for content reuse. It is useful if you want to reuse many topics. However, if you are writing a single, long document like a book, DocBook would be a more reliable choice.
Related Tags: technical writing, docbook, dita
Shweta Katdare is a writer with 24 by 5 Tech Comm, a technical writing company that specializes in fast, high-quality writing and editing. For more articles on writing, technology and business, sign up for the 24 by 5 Tech Comm Newsletter at www.24by5.com.
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