From: Richard Conroy <richard.conroy@...>
Date: 2010-01-31T05:38:56+09:00
Subject: Re: some shoes to fill...

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On Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 5:30 AM, Phlip <phlip2005@gmail.com> wrote:

> However, at the top of the list of things
> Shoes did wrong was cloning the entire environment, including ruby,
> AND including the installer. That's not DRY. Shoes should have been a
> simple gem. It could still be.
>
>
While this is all ancient history now, the goal behind hackety hack was to
create accessible tools for allowing kids to learn programming. _why was
quite explicit about reducing all barriers to entry - to the point of
ensuring
that many sophisticated activities could be accomplished in one line of
HH code.

Bundling the ruby interpreter was possibly a necessary evil, a bootstrapping
activity in meeting HHs initial aims. The fact that the Ruby community got
excited about doing real work with Shoes is secondary to the projects
original aims.

I would also dispute the ease of bundling Shoes as a gem, especially
considering the target market. I find explaining gems to
adults<http://richardconroy.blogspot.com/2009/11/ruby-on-windows-rant-and-call-to-action.html>tricky
enough, never mind the little ones.

I have had a mix of feelings over _why's exit from the Ruby community
(and the internet to boot), and the scorched earth policy he took to his
own creations.

But Hackety Hack was Important. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth that
that there was no changing of the guard or transfer of ownership.

regards,
Richard.

-- 
http://richardconroy.blogspot.com

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