Re: Perl 6: will we us it?

[bobdeath]

I personally will not move to perl 6 if I can help it. Its not that I don't want to learn the new constructs, it that I think perl already tries to be a "kitchen sink" language. It seems to me that perl tries to do everything for everyone, and from what I have seen from perl 6, that trend is increasing. Don't get me wrong, I like perl. I just think it needs to stick to what it is good at instead of trying to be something it was never meant to be.

[particle]

perl is a glue language. it's good at doing many things because programs require many different kinds of glue. it's also a dessert topping, and a floor wax. but don't get me started on that...

what do you think it is good at, and where should it's limits be?

my thoughts: as other technologies evolve, so should perl.

~Particle *accelerates*

[ihb]

I just think it needs to stick to what it is good at instead of trying to be something it was never meant to be.

Many times have I thought that about software. A popular example is ICQ which got all bloated pretty early on. And Winamp 3 is no fun. I keep running old-school Winamp 2. But I'm not worried. There is an old Winamp, and there are several alternative ICQ clients. Someone thought that ICQ no longer did what it was good at, and made another client that suited them and other better.

Or look at CGI.pm. Can you count the lite alternatives to it?

I expect a Perl::Lite dialect to arise (perhaps even using Parrot) if the changes in Perl6 will make Perl less good at what it's supposed to be good at.

I understand the worries people have about CPAN and related issues. Will I ultimately be forced into Perl6? I can even sympathize with that question. Yet I don't know; I still believe in evolution. If I'm forced into Perl6 then it's most likely because people like Perl6 and then it's an overall good. If I'm not forced into it, some anti-thesis helped forming the synthesis. If I and others dislikes it--yet too few to change Perl6's course--I'll get an own formation of developers that keep my flank of the community going. If you're one of them I believe it's simply called tough luck.

Personally I will put my hat on and see where this boat will sail me. It might be the Ark, it might be Titanic. But I'm confident that if I'm on Titanic a Titinic::Lite will come and offer me a ride before Titanic sinks. I'm not a ship architect myself, so for the time being I keep my eyes open at the horizon--for both land, ice bergs, and fellow boats.

Just my thoughts,
ihb

[Aristotle]

I expect a Perl::Lite dialect to arise (perhaps even using Parrot) if the changes in Perl6 will make Perl less good at what it's supposed to be good at.

The Winamp-ish reaction - people keep using Perl5 - is more likely I think.

Actually they no doubt will, regardless of how good Perl6 is, because there's so much Perl5 code still floating around. And then, most new things in Perl6 will be quite optional anyway so basically it can be used as a lite version of itself.

Uhm.. wait, I was trying to make a completely different point than what I ended up with. I guess my conclusion is it's not likely for Perl6 to not get adopted at all. Heh.

Makeshifts last the longest.