Some observations: Naming is a NON-trivial process. Casual approaches to the process of naming things are commonplace and generally result in sub-optimal results.
The Knight and Humpty Dumpty have addressed the fundamental issues of names and naming in their conversations with Alice. These discussions are simple, fundamental and exhaustive on the subject. I strongly recommend careful study of these passages which can be found in the Lewis Carrol texts--Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I don't see how any one can teach computer programming, or IT subjects in general without requiring students master Carrol's texts. As for the present effort--information overloading is a tendency that should be avoided absolutely. Some of the names already presented in this current discussion are classic examples of information overloading. These names should be avoided from the outset. Ultimately, names are best chosen where they do not carry any semantic attributes 'a priori'. (Unless, of course, the name is chosen specifically to capitalize on some 'a priori' semantic characteristic. Marketing activities frequently exploit pre-existing semantic attributes of names for commercial advantage.) The NAME of the thing is how that thing is 'called'. The attributes of the thing being named should NOT be embedded in that NAME. Instead, the specifications document should convey the attributes of the thing being named. (Naming as a process is often used within a culture to increase the coherence within that culture, and to decrease the accessibility of that culture by those who are external to that culture. It is particularly important for those engaged in so called "OPEN" information technology to be aware of the pitfalls in the 'naming' process and the self-isolating cultural tendency of the process.) Regards, Richard. -- Richard Davis Mformation SYStems Company tel: 508-869-6976 fax: 508-869-6008 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =================================================================== > From: Steve Wagner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 15:51:08 -0700 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Hardhats-members] OpenVistA naming contest > > I think Kevin and Blaskar are on the right track, but as I understand > it, this is a multi-dimensional naming problem: > > Linux vs. Windows > if Linux then > Knoppix vs. 'Damn Small Linux' vs. XXX > CPRS Vista vs. FOIA Vista vs. Vista-Office? > Cache' vs. GT.M > bootable vs. installable > if bootable then > target server has CD drive vs. DVD drive > etc??? > > Sometimes these kinds of variations are encapsulated in a version > scheme rather than in the name, ie: > > opSysVer.VistaVer.BootOrNot.CdOrDvdReq > > I'd prefer fun names, but I'm not sure they'd work and I'm not good at > coming up with them. > > When I am looking at my options for installing, I start by looking at > my potential target machines with available resources, then try to > figure out what I can manage to install given what is available and/or > augmentable. It seems like we ought to chose a naming convention that > makes this easy, even obvious, eh? > > Steve Wagner > > On Oct 12, 2004, at 2:21 PM, Kevin Toppenberg wrote: > >> As per my other post, I would like to see if anyone is >> interested in a different naming scheme. >> >> To kick this off, >> >> I propose: >> >> "OpenVistA" for the standard disk that allows one to >> put the system onto one's linux system. >> >> and "OpenVistA bootable" for a disk that can be run >> directly from the CD with a USB flashdrive. >> >> Also, we would need to put a version number in the >> name. I would think either: >> "OpenVistA 2004" >> or "OpenVistA v1.0" would be fine. >> >> I would propose that the OpenVistA disk would contain >> the install information to install to both Cache' and >> GTM. >> >> What do you all think? >> Kevin >> >> >> >> _______________________________ >> Do you Yahoo!? >> Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. 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