Hi,
I don't care about popularity, jvm or javascript now. I'm a newbie, but
I was not drawn to Pharo/Smalltalk because of that. If that were the
case I would choose an already popular language with javascript and/or
jvm support. It's not about fear of the unpopular but doesn't caring
about it (for the narrative in anglo tv series, seems that there is a
big deal about being popular for North American people, specially in
adolescence, but I digress).
I share the attraction for the Dynabook idea and how a system could be
understood by a single person.I have my own ideas about what a computer
mediated experience could be, some related with the dynabook, some
others don't and Smalltalk lets me explore/express some of that ideas
more fluidly.
What I would like from Smalltalk is to have is a better support for
integration with the "external" world of computing, starting with
documentation pandoc/TeX/luatex, fossil dvcs, then (I)Python, mind
mapping and so on.
I think that SRP has a "flaw" of showing itself as some kind of way to
save Smalltalk of its unpopular destiny, not being on top 10 of TIOBE or
being a niche platform, but for me that's not a cruel destiny and if it
were that's not the best way to fight against it, but by building stuff
that more people can use. Talking by making instead of talking by
talking. We can start with some small community and spread from there
(interactive documentation is my approach).
So may be the best way of SRP to serve Smalltalk could be to not be so
"self-serving" about its own goals (popularity, jvm, javascript,
enterprise, TIOBE) and show the diversity of views and concerns of the
Smalltalk community. To be a place for diversity in Smalltalk (may be a
curator of dispersed experiences elsewhere).
I hope it helps,
Offray
El 22/01/15 a las 13:03, horrido escribió:
Any language that has a significant user base, ie, a large number of
applications, will experience resistance to change. The only way to avoid
this is for people NOT to use the language.
The fear of popularization will condemn a language to permanent niche
status. That's fine, if that's what the user community wants. The language
will forever be a "hobbyist" tool.
Sean P. DeNigris wrote
hernanmd wrote
I am not that convinced Smalltalk should be popular
For me, the goal is "critical mass" - big enough where issues and new
projects move forward with ease. And this is probably just a few hundred
percent. Mass popularity brings in people disconnected from the vision.
Smalltalk for me is prototype Dynabook software. If it was just "a better
programming environment", I'd still use it, but I doubt there would still
be a passionate dream for the future of humanity attached to it...
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