Possible Perl 6 ad in local newspaper

[Anonymous Monk]

Dear janitor|gods, feel free to move this around for I could not decide on a better place to ask this.

I am thinking of putting an ad in small local newspaper about Perl 6, prompted by Perl 5: Today, Tomorrow, and Christmas. It will be something like ...

Christmas* is coming ... Real Soon Now.


Until then there is Perl 5.
 

(* See Perl 6.)

... I would like to drop "5" while still referencing Perl 5 somehow.

Yes, this is for those who know about the status of Perl 6 (probably a tiny population here locally), regardless of disposition (to Perl 6).

Comments?

[talexb]

I'm in no rush for Perl 6. I've been hearing about it for about ten years (maybe more). Right now, Perl (Perl 5) does whatever I need it to do. And it's still being actively developed and supported.

If Perl 5 development had stopped and every effort was being put onto Perl 6, I'd be more concerned. But there are lots of very bright people working on the old (and still good) as well as the new.

Perl 6 will arrive eventually, and perhaps development will slowly shift over to that. But I don't expect a tidal wave of change.

Go ahead and place the ad in your local paper if you want. I don't see any point in it.

[planetscape]

Is this really the highest use of your time and money? Would it not be better to donate that money to a good cause instead?

[raiph]

Cute. I love the notion of a local paper ad.

I'm paying attention to this post partly because I know local real world comments can end up global on the net. A single comment yesterday by a politician friend of mine led to a tweet by someone who heard it which led to a call from the New York Times today. Push the right buttons, and a global discussion can ensue.

I love the notion of an ad for Perl 5, and Perl, that incidentally suggests how Perl 6 fits (or doesn't) into the landscape. I'm not expecting the NYT to pay attention, but maybe redditors could move another step forward in developing a more accurate understanding of the Perl landscape.

I've mulled what I think you're trying to say, and I've seen problems with the Real Soon Now bit from each of the angles I've tried. I'm presumably either seeing something you don't, or vice-versa. If you could explain what your message (or joke) is, that would be helpful to me (even if it ruins the joke).

Do you agree that "Real Soon Now" is a quick joke, not absolutely essential to whatever it is you're trying to say? "Real Soon Now" implies Perl 6 is right around the corner. If it's intended sincerely, I'd say it's a well meaning but mistaken notion. If it's a gentle dig, I'd say it's well meaning but counterproductive.

Getting to a "production ready" version, for a value of "production ready" that matches Perl 5's quality, may take many years. But I'm convinced Larry knows what he's doing, and that Perl 6 is virtually guaranteed to be a major part of Perl's long term future. It seems unhelpful to the Perl 5 community to either, on the one hand, disparage Perl 6, or on the other, be less than careful about when one suggests it's going to be ready. The Perl 6 project could do with more contributors; imo that's almost the only reason it's worth mentioning at all.

[tobyink]

And what do you hope this will achieve?

Is this a Brewster's Millions situation?

[Anonymous Monk]

Either a (cheap) laugh or a reminder about the state, depends on a person's disposition. In my case, it is both.