serialization without xml format?

[news.austin.rr.com]

A co-worker recently insisted that you cannot serialize and deserialize
objects unless you use XML. Shouldn't it be possible to create classes that
have the ability to serialize and deserialize themselves to a text file of a
proprietary format without using XML?

 

[Alex Yakhnin [MVP]]

You're right you can write your own serialization/deserialization mechanism
you like.
Take a look at the Compact Formatter - binary formatter that works for both
CF and .NET

http://www.freewebs.com/compactFormatter/index.html

 

[Guest]

Your co-worker is patently wrong. You can serialize it to macaroni if you
wish (and I'd love to see it!). There are standards such as the
serialization engine used on the desktop, where XML can play a part, but
there's nothing preventing proprietary formats.

-Chris

 

[Daniel Moth]

You can serialize it to macaroni if you wish
ROTFLMAO :-DD