On Dec 18, 1:20 pm, Jan Rychter <j...@rychter.com> wrote: > I don't buy it. When you start using Python, nobody handholds you so > that you can pick an editor. You just use whatever you have. So what's > the deal here?
An editor for a lisp language is not just a text editor for the source that you then compile. It's an environment that interacts with a REPL. So people can't just use whatever they've been using. The python example only strengthens my argument. Python comes with IDLE which is, similar to many lisp environments, a development environment with an interactive prompt, editor, debugger, etc. Very simple, yet complete and right there for someone new to the language. I think people new to something can't or won't deal with too many tangential issues. That's why selecting an IDE, dealing with classpaths, using svn, finding out where's the latest version, what are the right docs, or as you mentioned, how to install a library, or even how to indent your code are all issues that aren't going away, but shouldn't distract a new adopter who is still trying to get the hang of things. Options are good, but choices are painful, especially to people who feel insecure in their knowledge and judgment because they just got here. Their insecurity is justified. That's why I think definitive defaults are important for adoption of new things. Especially lispy things that look oh-so-foreign. On the same matter, you mentioned a central repository for libraries. I'm with you on that one. I also think a central spot to congregate around is important. IIRC, Rich wants the community to solve this issue by itself (maybe just the build mechanism issue, I don't remember exactly), and in a sense this matter will be solved eventually this way. I still think it would have been much better if an authoritative figure would come up and say, "let's meet over there." Btw, this is exactly what Rich did with the google group, the irc channel, and the wiki. He essentially said let's meet over there, and we all did. Unfortunately, not so with a central repo for external libraries. If anyone is interested in the subject of why excess choice is bad, I highly recommend this short and very thought-provoking talk by Barry Schwartz: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html Mibu --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Clojure" group. To post to this group, send email to clojure@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to clojure+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/clojure?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
