[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