I haven't commented previously on this issue, and, note, I haven't
quoted anyone below. But, I think this whole debate is a tempest in
a teapot (or a rant in search of topic). Just what is the issue here?
Dan Shafer, a hero to many X-Talkers, including me, is concerned that
RR is spreading itself too thin, supporting both DreamCard (allegedly
for ``Inventive users''---hobbyists by any other name) and Revolution
(allegedly for ``Professional Developers'', ignoring the different
pricing options). He has argued that RR can't do both, citing the
history of computing and the litany of failed software companies
attempting to do what he claims RR is doing. I don't question his
facts, or even his argument; but I do question the alleged parallel
of RR with that history.
As an aside, let it be known that I have the ``maxed-out'' license---
the equivalent of what I had with Metacard (yes, I have been with MC/
RR for quite some time), so if RR went the totally ``professional
route'' I would be unaffected in that sense.
But that would be a big mistake. Dreamcard *IS* the replacement for
hypercard for all but a few (I am a huge Dreamcard supporter---see
the RR website for my endorsement). How many hypercard users ever
produced stand-alones (``apps'' in the parlance)? I know I never did
(just as I never produce standalones---apps---in MC/RR). Tiny stacks
is what we produced, and still do. Dreamcard is brilliant just
because we can continue to do just that. Better, those to whom we
provide our stacks need not even have a copy of Dreamcard---they can
just download the Dreamcard player to use our stacks. It is the
continuation of a dream (yes!) that was Steved at Apple, but now
applies to virtually all operating systems. THAT is utterly brilliant!
I know Dan appreciates this brilliance; he is just concerned that any
resources devoted to Dreamcard are extracted from MC/RR as a
professional development environment. I would agree, except that I
think he has mischaracterised the distinction between Dreamcard and
MC/RR. Dreamcard is not some lesser development environment from MC/
RR, just different. Personally, I like producing full-blown apps in
40K that I can send to colleagues to use. These apps include
psychology experiments, novel statistical analyses, neural nets, and
so on. For that purpose, there is no reason that Dreamcard should be
different from MC/RR. Indeed, as Dreamcard is, in effect, a free
(for RR) spin-off from app-producing MC/RR, ANY Dreamcard sales are
pure gravy.
My point? Dreamcard users are not any less ``professional'' than
those for whom compiled ``apps'' are the raison d'etre. We need and
use everything the alleged professionals also use. So, there is no
difference in support or resources. RR should continue to develop
Revolution as they have been doing, responding to every complaint the
``professionals'' demand needs correction: but those professionals
are as much in the Dreamcard contingent as they are in the ``I paid
maximum dinero, I demand satisfaction'' contingent. The difference
is, completely and only, that Dreamcard programmers don't need
compiled apps of their creations. To the extent that such
compilation concerns are at issue, RR should devote resources to
addressing them. If they are engine issues, we all benefit, so I am
all for it! Kevin et al. at RR (brilliant people all, obviously)
have recognised this, and have done the brilliant thing. In case you
missed it: I can't emphasise enough just how brilliant for the
computing community the Dreamcard move is: the dream of hypercard
made available to virtually all, but based on an expensive engine for
those of us that need it *for other purposes*. Do I mind indirectly
funding all those Dreamcard users? Nope, as it is, as I noted, pure
gravy for RR.
So, just to drive the point home: Dreamcard is brilliant! Pass it
around. And, don't deprecate it by some false amateur vs.
``professional'' distinction.
--
Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
See <http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html>
-Dr. John R. Vokey
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