[REBOL] The day before, the day after, time to leave? ... Re:(3)
From: eoconnor:fei at: 22-Sep-2000 17:16
Amen, Elan.
It's an uplift to hear those thoughts expressed. Focus on the new:
peer-to-peer, collaboration, dialecting, new concepts in user interfaces,
design of custom protocols, knowledge management etc. Heck, I'm not nearly
as excited about the network protocols supported by REBOL as I am by the
specialized ones that may soon be written by you, or any of the other gifted
REBOLs on this list.
I think some of the souring notes on this ml stem from the frustration of
trying to make REBOL outperform some of the older, more established
languages. It's not an easy comparison; if we were talking in terms of
building materials, it'd be like comparing gravel to putty.
REBOL is now good enough to begin writing useful NEW programs. If you're
excited about technology, there's no shortage of great new solutions to
build (if you've been living under a rock :^), let me know and I'll supply
you with links). For example, I'm really in dire need of creative, hands-on
REBOLs to help lay the foundation for Rebmail: we can't let this app be a
mere replica of an OLD email client.
Concentrating on the new things is easier said than done. So many of the old
things were done so poorly or are so overly complex that it's hard to let
them go (come to think of it, you polish-up some old-style examples in TOG,
no?). Wasn't the 10-line webserver cool, though?
I hope that RT finishes up the REBOL foundation it's been working on and
focuses on building a mind-blowing /Express product. From what I can see,
it's their obligation and best hope for a sizable revenue stream.
I look forward to your next book.
--Ed
