Seems unlikely an XML parser will be added to the engine dependancies.
A compromise would be altering the theme parser to be more similar to the locale files, which support comments and groupings.

http://hedgewars.googlecode.com/hg/share/hedgewars/Data/Locale/en.txt

For example

Or somebody can create a editor or at least a converter for the xml file.
I could will do this, but for Windows only, because I'm using the .NET platform (I don't know if Mono is already supporting .NET 2 or .NET 3 code)

When I'm finished, I will publish the code, too, so it can be ported to other OS if its possible.

I already started developing the editor:

It will have a option to export the data to the HW-Cfg. And it will be open source when i'm finished, so it can be ported to other OS.

ugh. mono / .net

Programming with .NET is (compared to C++) very easy and fast*, because the .NET library brings some nice functions with it.

Many people are thinking that these programs are very slow (like java), but this is not true. You can program complex 3D games using .NET and the DirectX wrapper "XNA" (For XBOX360, Windows Phone, Zune and PC), SlimDX, Ogre#, ...

*I'm almost finished.

Installing .NET or MONO won't kill you

New screenshot: The editor for Land Objects

Programming in almost anything is easier than C++.
That's hardly a reason to go to .NET

Here are some reasons why I think "ugh" and why I also think
"No way in hell is this going anywhere near the hedgewars code base"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework#Standardization_and_licensing
and also.
"While the standards that make up .NET are inherently cross platform, Microsoft's full implementation of .NET is only supported on Windows."

.NET is just Microsoft's attempt to reassert themselves in a domain they don't belong in, and should die.

And finally, while I obviously don't agree w/ RMS that often, I wholeheartedly agree w/ him on this:
http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2010/07/richard-stallman-on-net-mono-and-dotgnu/index.htm

Slowness is hardly the concern. Bytecode is a common solution and performs well in a number of interpreted languages. Heck. Even Javascript engines do tricks such as that these days, and javascript performance has become surprisingly fast as a result.
It is the .NET framework that is my objection. That and Microsoft's control of the future of C# are the reason I'll pick pretty much any language/framework over that combo.

You're right, but I also have some experience with some other languages (Java, Pascal-Delphi, C-C++, D) and C# is the best language for me, so I will go on using this language, even if there are some difficulties.

You dont have to worry - I'm trying the best to use only the libraries/components, which are supported by Mono, too (OK, the FolderBrowserDialog I'm using needs Shell32, but there is a .NET/Mono-built-in dialog)

Till comma: Maybe - I don't know
After comma: No. Every programming language or framework or sth. else has a reason to "live". If it's bad, nobody will use it anymore -> "die".

Even if I don't like everything Microsoft (or Micro$oft or M$) did and does, this company is not the satan itself (!!!). But if they would help the Mono dev. team, it would be better (.NET could expand and would fulfill the primary idea of an improved Java).

We will see it in the future - maybe Google or another company creates a new framework and everybody is using it ...

I'm using .NET I'm evil I'm a slave of M$. Yes OK. Fine.

--

Back to the editor: The core element (XML to CFG) can be ported very easy (Copy the classes ThemeDocument, ThemeLandObject and ThemeSprayObject with their submethods).