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[REBOL] Re: evaluation result (or... goodbye)

From: maarten:koopmans:surfnet:nl at: 3-May-2002 17:13

> laplace: > > So I > > don't think that people has to generalize and I don't understand why > > there is a long list about Java as this is a mailing list about rebol=2E > > I appreciated Boris' analysis of the language needs for his project. It > clearly shows up the strengths and weaknesses of various software > platforms, Rebol included. > > Carl Sassanrath is on record as saying that Rebol is for "programming in > the small".
But it isn't. You can program in the large with the language as is. It is more than good enough.
> The available documentation (for which he is also on record as saying "is > horrible and I apologize profusely"), the lack of debugging tools, the > lacklustre support for developers (Feedback @rebol.com is almost entirely > one-way), and confusing and off-putting commercial licensing terms all make > the point that it is nowhere near ready for "programming in the large". >
These things are true. I understand that they need to pay their bills. OTOH: so do I. And I am not that much into religion. I am into working solutions. And if Rebol doesn't do the job for me because all of the marketing problems, bad luck.
> Which is a pity. RT have achieved miracles and produced a potentially > world-beating software platform. >
I agree again. But it is very hard to make money on a software platform (look at Borland over the last ten years). If I were them (which I am not), I would have two versions of Rebol: Command and Command/View both for free. Then the Rebol Dev kit with Encap for $500 with unlimited redistributable licenses. *Then* I would start selling IOS. But I am not RT, and I hope they have good luck in what they try. It will be tough though. The only way to make money is by doing large volumes which is why you need a full--blown feature-set. Look at PHP, Perl. Python isn't that succesfull in terms of profit, Borland has been struggling for years. So I see the need for a solution based approach (IOS), but even then the lack of communication is not very appealling. Experiencing another environment puts these things into perspective, which isn't necessarily that good. I hope the best though.... REBOL is by far the best software engineering product I have encountered and i *do* like the people at RT a lot. Hope they'll make it work. --Maarten