On 26/03/13 18:41, Matt Wagner wrote:
That said, I don't think that naming projects after what they do is
really that common. "Linux" doesn't communicate "open-source operating
system," and someone unfamiliar could just as easily think it was a
disinfectant. A company named "Red Hat" is more apt to make, well, hats.
Even "McDonald's" doesn't communicate food -- it might as well be a
Scottish rifle manufacturer if you just go by the name.
There are few things that I enjoy more than an excuse to go off to the
book shelf and track down some point or other.
I've just blown the dust off my copy of "Under the Radar: How Red Hat
changed the software business - and took Microsoft by surprise",
co-written by llustrious founder Bob Young, and published all the way
back in 1999.
Books made of paper were quite the thing in those days.
Anyway, the point is the background on the selection of "Red Hat" as a
name. It was a good fit for two objectives
- Support a clear logo/visual image
- Keep options open about what the named thing actually does, so that it
can evolve.
Bear in mind that Red Hat started off selling mail-order CDs of free
software and books. The company has evolved through many iterations
since then, but the name, and the Shadowman logo have held up, because
they're visually striking, and don't actually mean anything too specific.
Against those criteria, I think that Winged Monkey was a pretty good
choice of name.
"Gabelstaplerfahrer", I'm not so sure. Mostly because I fear the
associated visuals.
