On Fri, Jan 2, 2015 at 10:56 AM, Aaron Rosenzweig <[email protected]> wrote:
> For a long time, the term GNU didn’t mean much to me. I knew it was “the > free software foundation” and was related to “CopyLeft” which is a bit > tongue-in-cheek… meaning that free software should always be free and open > source… the opposite of a “CopyRight” > > One day, I stopped, I looked up GNU. > > The “G” stands for “GNU” so it is recursive as in: > GNUNUNUNUNUNUNU…. > > So what about the “NU” part? that stands for “Not Unix” > > So GNU is an emphatic statement screaming that the free software > foundation is “Not UNIX” !!! > Interesting that in parallel I came to use the same example :) > > I was shocked at first… because to me they are at the base of UNIX. The > GCC compiler, everything… But what they really mean is that when they > started, UNIX was very pricey and only for large corporations, not for > hobbyists, not for thinkers and entrepreneurs. Their software created the > foundation for Linux which technically isn’t Unix but is “Unix-Like” - and > very similar to SVR4 Unix. > > “Smalltalk” is a great name - you can learn all the syntax on the back of > an index card. It’s “small” get it? But it also collides with “picking up > chicks” and is somewhat confusing to do internet searches with. Not too bad > but… “Pharo” does sound cooler. > > > You are reaching out to the Pharo community and asking them to embrace > “Smalltalk.” They don’t want to. > Thats a bit strong for me :). But the next is certainly true. > They don’t deny the lineage but they desire their own identity. > > > Maybe instead of “Smalltalk Renaissance” you coin “PNS” - “Pharo Not > Smalltalk” or… make the P stand for “PNS” so it is recursive. > PNSNSNSNSNS…. > I don't think its fair to suggest Richard change his message (though I note your humour, I just want to be clear to support Richard here). His stated scope is wider than Pharo. Its just that Pharo is a nice poster child. Now "The Renaissance" produced many new schools of art, each a re-birth based in its past but evolving to something new. I think Pharo aligns with that interpretation, and it would be great if such is compatible with Richard's goals. Now while Pharo wants to avoid the constraint of "being Smalltalk" - all the great work of the the last four or more years has not shifted it significantly away from being identifiable as "a" Smalltalk. I expect in practice (looking in from outside) that to be the case for a while. > Hahaha, then again, try to pronounce PNS…. doh! > > In my mind… for a language / platform to pick up steam two things need to > happen: > > 1) A consulting company needs to “kick butt” and “take names” using this > technology > > 2) A charismatic speaker / author needs to create modern books and run > around the country giving appearances and presentations. > > That is what happened with Rails which is in many ways a “Smalltalk > without an image.” So it’s not like the minimal syntax and dynamic nature > of Smalltalk is lost on the world… that is primarily what Rails developers > relate with. > > With Ruby on Rails we have 37Signals as the consulting company that “did > stuff” and cut out Java developers from projects. > > With Ruby on Rails we have Dave Thomas as the author and main charismatic > figure at any programming conference he attends. > > It’s cool and it feels real. That was the secret formula to success. > *Aaron Rosenzweig* / Chat 'n Bike <http://www.chatnbike.com> > *e:* [email protected] *t:* (301) 956-2319 [image: Chat 'n Bike] > [image: > Chat 'n Bike] > > On Jan 1, 2015, at 6:26 PM, horrido <[email protected]> wrote: > > I think if Smalltalk has a negative connotation, you don't run away from > it, > you change it! That's what Smalltalk Renaissance is all about. > > Is changing a negative perception easier or harder than running away from > it? That is a very interesting question, and there is no obvious answer. > However, as I indicated previously, your attempt to run away from it has > completely, totally, and utterly failed. Something to think about. > > > > Ben Coman wrote > > On Thursday, January 1, 2015, Ben Coman wrote: > > I refer to the two paragraphs following "On pharo being a new language". > I think Sven's response addressed these the best. > > > > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://forum.world.st/The-Smalltalk-Renaissance-Program-tp4797112p4797582.html > Sent from the Pharo Smalltalk Developers mailing list archive at > Nabble.com. > > >
