There is a very (to me at least) inspiring thread on squeak-dev at http://forum.world.st/Fork-Proposal-Cuis-amp-Killer-Apps-td3796633.html
Here is the core of the OP: > I suggest a new fork or possibly a new orientation for the next Squeak > release: > Adopt Cuis as the core image and focus on killer applications to attract > new Smalltalk users. > Thousands of downloads are recorded on CNet for simple apps like a voice > recorder. > They could all be using and learning Smalltalk. Same for many other > applications. > That would help make Smalltalk popular again. > > Recently I found Squeak / Cuis contains many Sound classes. So I wrote up > an email suggesting it to a community college teacher friend who had asked > for a sound recorder. Imagine my embarrassment when I found the files > Squeak supports doesn't include .mp3. > > Squeak has so much unfinished half starts at programs, why not adopt > Juan's work to flush the unnecessary, then get started on building a > serious applications team to build truly useful free code. > > Another example, Roxio is a million dollar software company making a video > recorder app. which is not as good as an ordinary VCR and not supported > (they have a staff but try getting any real help). Squeak could be > capturing a slice of that market and enticing users to learn Smalltalk! > And source code can substitute for most support. > > Another example, Solid Works is a 3D object drafting program that is > simple and gets many thousands of users away from AutoDesk. Can Smalltalk > deliver most or all of that function with a FFI to openGL and some > programming? Certianly! > And here is the response I posted: > This is pure gold. It would be great to put the personality differences > aside (I think the only real obstacle/difference at this point) and unify > as much as possible. > > For sure, another fork would only dilute everyone's great efforts further. > But a stack of existing technologies could be very intriguing, if only > wishful thinking right now. The seeming current policy of > Squeak/Pharo/Cuis/etc to cherry pick changes from the other guys seems to > leave little time for killer app development. Imagine something like: > > cuis - rock-solid, clean, stable, small kernel > + pharo - professional-grade Smalltalk with the expected bells and > whistles of a modern IDE > + squeak - dynabook software (which b.t.w. was the whole point of Squeak > - and Smalltalk - in the first place); a medium that unites all other > media of human expression, with the required support of PDF > reading/writing/viewing, HTML browsing, cross-platform mp3 support... > _______________________________________________________________________ > = the closest we've ever been to the holy grail of computing (until VPRI > releases and makes us all obsolete, lol) > -- View this message in context: http://forum.world.st/Smalltalk-vision-tp3798902p3798902.html Sent from the Pharo Smalltalk mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
