[REBOL] Re: OT: Paul Graham on hacker's radar
From: nitsch-lists:netcologne at: 3-Oct-2003 13:50
Am Freitag, 3. Oktober 2003 10:43 schrieb bryan:
> http://www.paulgraham.com/javacover.html
>
> "Over time, hackers develop a nose for good (and bad) technology. I
> thought it might be interesting to try and write down what made Java
> seem suspect to me."
>
> I don't know if one develops a nose for such a blunt thing, I think one
> develops a nose for technology that will most likely appeal to one.
>
> Rebol really strikes me as something that would appeal to me, but I
> never seem to have the time to focus on it, because despite its appeal
> it has weird licensing, and poor xml support. I have to focus on
> languages I can use in product development, and I have to work with xml
> all the time.
>
> So when I look at Rebol aesthetically I think, hmm I could get really
> good with this thing, but when I look at Rebol from the perspective of
> what I need I think, well better start up the old VS.NET
>
> Other people on this list do find Rebol practical for their needs, as
> well as their aesthetics, can you specify what exactly in your needs
> Rebol answers?
All following IMHO, and i am not qualified! ;)
Rebol is for:
Interaction with people. people-computer and people-people.
the computer-computer-interaction (xml, libraries) is second class goal.
Example:
Years ago i talked with my sister. she was in some buereau which did the
distribution of something in germany. lots of variants (blade cxtt34) and
customers (which may have some special conditions).
she handled the orders, keeping an eye of stuff in store.
They had some professional db to track that.
She told me how cleverly she organized her desktop. thats this piece of wood.
Some smart placing paper-notes to look the main customers quick up, and such.
sometimes she had to go to the storehouse and talk to the people, because
something in the inventory was wrong. it was only a some rooms away.
so the professional application could not help with some often done
associations. A simple list on paper could.
Listening sometimes this notepaper-thing was more or less common.
a simple text-list added to the entry-fields with a hotkey may have helped
here. wonderfull xml-magic not.
Analogies
IMHO its not the mass or complexity where rebol shines.
people have a long tradition of compressing information.
some things are very complex, like a plane.
pilotes use checklists before takeof.
those checklists are very simple from a IT-view.
they have extremely complex content.
starting the engine means press this button and that and watch the needle here
and.. no problem for the human pilot, while coding that, uuuh.
but forgetting to start the engine can happen to this high qualified human.
(ok, not the engine. something minor but..)
Hype ;)
so for an IT, this list is that ridiculous small, it does not need much
attention. for the pilot, he could not care more.
thats what rebol shines. supporting this lists.
thats why IOS is great, without rich-text, xml and everything sophisticated.
The list will be there. and it does not need rich-text too.
For an IT, maybe compare it to the rootblock of a filesystem.
when it works, no problem with lots of gigs. when it breaks..
(i lack business english, sorry)
greetings,
-Volker
