[Gambas-user] Gambas Future or what kind of Gambas we want.

[Carl Nilsson]

Tobias:
Thank you for reply.  I think maybe you misunderstood a couple of 
points I was trying to make.
I was not criticizing any language, particularly not Gambas.  Nor was 
inferring that Linux is not a great set of op. systems, one or many 
of which would be of long-term advantage to a user.  Switching to 
Linux does however pose a early barrier that must be surmounted 
before many people become comfortable with it.  I have been 
programming off and on for nearly 55 years, but only as a scientific 
user and not a professional.  I met Unix in the 1970's, but did not 
continue to use it.  To put VB6 onto Windows XP, I insert the CD, 
click a few times, put in my keycode and it is done.  Heaps and heaps 
of online help, both from MS and the net.  The installation process 
for Gambas into Linux, plus other components gets better with time, 
but is still challenging for many, including those with significant 
past programming experience.

You said it yourself: "There are also seasoned Linux users who will 
appreciate Gambas
and there are youngsters whose first language Gambas may be. All the old VB6
users _I_ have met (shortly after their switch to Linux and Gambas,
admittedly!) were really confused about the distributions' way of package
management, Gambas components, etc. and more complained about the whole
situation. I can't remember having heard from them again.".

That's my main point.   The original question was about how to ensure 
the future of gambas.  Maybe that's already been done by it's 
intrinsic quality.  However, to increase the takeup and use - and 
hence continued development long into the future - you have to pay 
attention to potential users and meet their requirements for 
installation and maintenance.  A bit more attention to nearly two 
million users of a board like the RPi would not go amiss.   The 
BeagleBone Black creates another opportunity.  Why Python and not Gambas?
Carl

>(snip)