Message-ID: <32DE8463.7919@objsoft.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 13:41:23 -0600
From: Kevin Clark <kevin@objsoft.com>
Reply-To: kevin@objsoft.com
Organization: Objectsoft, Inc.
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Subject: Re: Goodbye ParcPlace
References: <5b6mc5$s6b@chronicle.concentric.net> <32DA8E55.2A74@smalltalk.com> <32DC3EEC.3DE6@ibm.net>
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John T. Kwon wrote:
> 
> Dan Goldman wrote:
> >
> > quotaman@concentric.net wrote:
> > >
> > > It was fun
> > > While it lasted
> > > Little did we know
> > > That SmallTalk offered OO
> > > And OO was only a methodology
> > > OO then turned into a feature
> > > That every language supports
> > > Goodbye ParcPlace
> > > Goodbye SmallTalk
> > > I miss the fun
> >
> > Somehow I can't lend too much credibility to comments from someone who
> > doesn't know that it's Smalltalk, NOT SmallTalk.  This mistake is
> > usually made by people who never used it.
> >
> > ...dan
>  I agree.  By the way, what I think may be hurting ParcPlace/Digitalk
> is IBM VisualAge for Smalltalk, which is what our shop uses.  We will
> be purchasing VisualAge for Java when it finally comes out, but we
> at CK Analytical wonder if Java is good for its niche, and Smalltalk
> is good for its separate niche.  I suppose that if we were all always
> attached to the Internet, and if we were all always content with
> having to download our apps from somebody else's server, that Java
> would be fine.
> 
> I don't think that everyone fits into that niche.  Just remember that
> not everyone who uses a language has the spare time to check posts
> and reply to them.  I rarely have the leisure time because I am too busy
> programming.  Maybe the dearth of posts means that we're gainfully
> employed.

I agree with John's assessment. Just this week we discovered two large
VisualWorks development shops (30-40 developers) switching to IBM.
Unfortunately, no new Smalltalk business is generated.

The major hurdle PPD faces today is addressing the industries concern
about viability. The upper management in a large organization does not
care about blocks and performs. Blocks are about meeting times and
performs are something their subordinates do:.

MANAGERS CARE ABOUT STATEGIC CHOICE AND WHO WILL BE IN BUSINESS TO
IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTS OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

IBM does not have a problem addressing this issue. Smalltalk is used as
the internal deveolopment tool for the VisualAge family. PPD on the
other hand, needsWork.

Smalltalk is a superior and much more stable environment that most
development tools in the marketplace. I believe the members of the
Smalltalk Industry Council, including us, should join together and take
action to promote Smalltalk.

After all, if we love this language, lets make it work.

Kevin Clark
-- 
Kevin Clark
Objectsoft, Inc
350 West Erie, 2nd floor
Chicago, IL 60611
312-266-7887 x 105
http://www.objsoft.com

