What I think we miss here, is the generation of the users adopting Pharo/Smalltalk.
For many developers over they 30's (like me), when I show them Pharo or tell them about what/how it does some stuff, they get curious and/or try it. They might even learnt Smalltalk back at the university. Usually they have used/suffered a lot of languages or tools and can appreciate the benefits of Pharo, as well as to identify its shortcomings. When I talk to "new programmers" (20-25 years old), almost all of them don't get attracted by it. Why? I couldn't tell. Mainly because they can't use the few tools/patterns they already learnt how to, barely, use. Those "kids" will grow up and besides doing non-toyish software, maybe will lead teams or get to make decisions about what technology to use. Maybe we should ask ourselves what technologies do startups choose to "invent" new solutions? Why? Software became pop-culture some years ago, and I feel we're Jazz/Classical. I like the latter, but trying to attract pop being classical is a dead end. Regards! Esteban A. Maringolo
