The reason given for getting rid of the M version of VistA and why people may show reluctance adopt VistA and that vendors of alternative products give for the reason people should not adopt VistA is that VistA is written in "T that Dead Language, M." The MDC is a vital sign for M. There are evolutionary changes that have been recognized as needed, even planned for in the past, and not implemented. ( There was a long thread about changes that were planned, etc., back when Kevin first started delving into M programming and brought up the subject.) There needs to be some updating done to the ANSI standard. In my opinion, not having this sign of life is a MAJOR PROBLEM.
When there MDC became defunct before, there were apparently a lot of factors involved, one of which was money to keep it going. Now there are a lot of alternative ways that meetings can be held. WorldVistA meetings are getting big enough that probably the occasional face to face meetings that might be necessary can be held in conjunction with them. Some of the people on the WorldVistA board were active with the MDC, and they are stretched pretty thin right now and not able to take up this cause. There is a much wider community of M programmers out there that need to be energized and tapped to get this moving. It isn't just a WorldVistA problem. I am not an M programmer. I am a VistA cheerleader. I feel strongly that this is a major problem that needs solving to keep the VistA momentum going, not side lined because of something like this that can be remedied. The speed and reliability of M has been proven over and over and there is no reason that VistA or M should be killed by neglect or that the VA should spend whatever countless millions of our tax dollars to migrate VistA to Java just because people are running around telling all of the politicians and anyone who will listen that "M is dead". An active MDC is proof positive that M isn't dead. We need it and the sooner the better. Then we need some more college courses in M. This VistA-Office push may be the perfect place to do that - couple VistA and M education. But that is for another trip to my soapbox! On Monday 28 February 2005 08:57 am, Terry wrote: > Why? To what end? > > Terry L. Wiechmann > > > By now everyone is sick of hearing me harp on this, but this Boston > > meeting > > > and get together with this active group of M programmers seems to me the > > place to try to get the MDC going again. I trust someone has invited our > > German friends and British contacts, etc., to the get together. I have > > had no > > > response to my email sent to Japan. If anyone has information about > > who I > > > should contact at the NEMUG to see if there is and interest among their > > membership, or if someone who has the experience and knows members of > > that > > > group and could find out who has been invited and if there is any > > interest in > > > reviving the MDC, I would appreciate hearing from you. > > -- > > Nancy Anthracite > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > > SF email is sponsored by - The IT Product Guide > > Read honest & candid reviews on hundreds of IT Products from real users. > > Discover which products truly live up to the hype. Start reading now. > > http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=6595&alloc_id=14396&op=click > > _______________________________________________ > > Hardhats-members mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members > > Terry L. Wiechmann -- Nancy Anthracite ------------------------------------------------------- SF email is sponsored by - The IT Product Guide Read honest & candid reviews on hundreds of IT Products from real users. Discover which products truly live up to the hype. Start reading now. http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=6595&alloc_id=14396&op=click _______________________________________________ Hardhats-members mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members
