From: Hal Fulton <hal9000@...>
Date: 2004-05-01T00:13:54+09:00
Subject: Re: Opportunities and pitfalls; was "Introducing myself - Sascha Ebach"

Mike Calder wrote:
> A word of warning from a potential friend.  Please don't take this negatively, 
> because I think you have something, and I'd like to help.  If you can read 
> through to the end, there's a modest proposal.

[much snippage]

Overall I agree with you. Perhaps not on minor points here and there,
but I won't nitpick.

> What Ruby needs is some thought to the process side and the needs of the 
> non-techie user. I'm an application programmer, but for my sins I've had to 
> do the marketing bit to persuade people to use my products, and that sort of 
> thing gives you a perspective; it's dirty work, but someone has to do it.  I 
> think Ruby users at the moment are enthusiasts; if it's to grow, it needs a 
> bit more ease of use.

Granted. It's improving, but slowly. How to speed it up? 99% of the
people working on Ruby are donating their time.

> I'd say Ruby has reached the position where it needs something like a Red Hat 
> (Ruby Turban?) to package it and represent it to the world.  I'd be willing 
> to get involved in that.  What do you think?

My opinion only: If something like this happens, I see two absolute
requirements.

1. It should be driven and/or approved by Matz himself.
2. It should be a team effort so that it doesn't become egoware
or abandonware.


Cheers,
Hal