my $sth = $dbh->prepare($query);
$sth->execute;
$out = '';
foreach my $queryResult( $sth->fetchrow_hashref  )
   $out .= $mask->process( $queryResult )
}
return $out;
[download]

To do the same in TT2, you create a template DB which uses Template::Plugin::DBI so you can write

<table width="50%">
[% MACRO mask BLOCK %]
    <tr>
      <td>
         [% news_title %]
      </td>
      <td>
         [% news_headline %]
      </td>
      <td>[%    WRAPPER link
            action   = "readnews" 
            newsitem = news_id %]Read More...[% END # block test %]
      </td>
    </tr>
[% END # macro block mask %]
[% INCLUDE DB ## db calls macro mask, can be redefined
  query='    SELECT * FROM latestnews;    '
%]
</table>
[download]

This works out of the box with TT2.

Sure, you have to define the MACRO mask before INCLUDE-ing the template DB, but that could be remedied by expanding the syntax so you can assign macros to a variable, or it could be implemented as a Template::Plugin or Template::View -- not a lot of work

I think you misunderstood my question. From what I can tell, this is supposed to be completely generic, being able to attach handlers to any "tag" (or have it pass through verbatim if there is no handler), with each handler receiving its children as content and returning a rendered version. With <> tags, child content has already been processed, but handling of () tags is supposed to take precedence over their children; does that mean the contents of a () tag aren't subject to any handlers? Or that upon return of the () tag handler, any tags in the return are handled? Other?

I think you misunderstood my question

I don't think I did :) I explained how the given template example unravels in both perl and tt2 terms

does that mean the contents of a () tag aren't subject to any handlers?

I don't understand what you're asking :)

Based on his actual proof of concept (both old, new) "(DB)" "DB" is the name of plugin, its perl code, either ...DB.aXMLpl or ...DB.pm

Since (DB) has no () children, it is processed first, as a complete unit

Its responsible for processing all tags contained within as a template

Or that upon return of the () tag handler, any tags in the return are handled? Other?

Lets try another , shorter example

(Foo)
 <Fruit>Apples</Fruit>
 (Bar)
   <pants>red</pants><d>varyable</d>
 (/Bar)
(/Foo)
[download]

That would be functionally equivalent to this perl code

return $Foo->(
 '<Fruit>Apples</Fruit>'
 .$Bar->('<pants>red</pants><d>varyable</d>')
);
[download]

Like chromatic said, its basically scheme

Am I closer now?