From: Chad Perrin <perrin@...>
Date: 2007-04-27T02:43:03+09:00
Subject: Re: DHH vs. WHY style

On Fri, Apr 27, 2007 at 12:18:30AM +0900, James Britt wrote:
> James Edward Gray II wrote:
> 
> >I also don't think whimsical names have to be unhelpful.  When I ported 
> >File::ReadBackwards from Perl, I named my version Elif.  I guess you 
> >have to "get that" before it helps, but I had to know what Facets was to 
> >even make guesses about the more helpful names.  Seems pretty comparable 
> >to me.
> >
> >So, I guess I'm a rebel:  I like cool names.
> 
> I stand with you!  Raise the black flag!

H.L. Mencken once said: "Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to
spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."  I
just thought I'd share.  It's one of my favorite quotes.


> 
> My main concern with purely descriptive names are that they may not pass 
> the Google test.  That is, if someone mentions it in a post and I want 
> to learn more, a reasonable search (e.g., ruby+code-name on Google) 
> should bring it up in the top 10.

Thus, combine the two.  Instead of Facets/File_reverse or Elif, you
might consider using Facets/Elif.  Voila.  Brand recognition, fun, *and*
brand recognition, all rolled up in one convenient package.

-- 
CCD CopyWrite Chad Perrin [ http://ccd.apotheon.org ]
"Real ugliness is not harsh-looking syntax, but having to
build programs out of the wrong concepts." - Paul Graham