Chris Nandor [[EMAIL PROTECTED]] quoth:
*>This problem plagues all languages that aren't C, C++, Java, or anything
*>blessed by Microsoft. Python is even worse, because almost no one knows it.
*>
*>I'm not saying there aren't things inherent in Perl to make it a poor
*>choice. I am saying that it is factors not inherent in the language which
*>are most important. Finding people who are both competent AND like to use
*>free software is just difficult.
I don't know if the free v. non-free attribute is important or as
important as the competent people which are becoming harder and harder to
find as more and more people flood into the market looking for the quick
buck. But, if your boss says 'learn Java' more than likely the majority of
people in corporate America will buy the book, take the class and do ask
they are asked as they like to feed their family and pay the bills with as
little hassle as possible.
The economics of Open Source are interesting as the culture surrounding it
was once a group of free spirits who did what they loved and tried to do
things right because it pleased them, not the monster corporation. Now,
however, the dynamic is changing since the Internet has made the computing
industry a very lucrative place to be with everyone jumping on the boat
before the bottom falls out. So now there are two camps of Open Source
people, the philosophers and the economists. There is lots of money to be
made in this arena, books, support, consulting and tools are just the tip
of the iceburg so of course everyone is looking around at all times for
the next insanely great thing.
If Perl isn't selling as many books as Java it could mean any number of
things such as Java programmers are stupid and need books, Java is harder
to learn, etc. The books are a symptom, the jobs and lack thereof are a
symptom, and the language itself is even somewhat irrelevant in this quest
for a cause.
Economics isn't about money, it's about people. Follow the money and
you'll find the people.
e.
