Re: Perl's Glory Days Are Behind It, But It Isn't Going Anywhere

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After skimming the article at the heart of the Slashdot discussion I think
there are some reasons for the popularity of Perl-alternatives:

a) Large corporations have supported some languages or standardized on them
(Sun/Java, Apple/Objective-C).
b) Some languages are hot because of a perceived low learning curve,
widespread framework availability and adoption (JavaScript, frameworks like
Mootools, JQuery, et. al.)
c) In cases where you would think Perl would be a natural choice Bash seems
easier in some cases, "people are opting for the simplicity and portability
of Bash rather than Perl in these cases..."

Prospective Strategies:

A: Powerhouse Corporate Endorsement

Our beloved computing industry has companies like Apple and Google at the
forefront and they are both decidedly un-Perl-friendly. But who would have
ever thought that these companies would be where they are today ten years
ago? Certainly not me, that's for sure. My guess here is that, like
everything in computing, sooner or later the computing market is going to
shift again. Perhaps rather than computers or cell phones we will all start
buying robots or something. Let's look into the future of computing,
whatever is coming *after* this round, to become the defacto language.

B: Slash Thine Learning Curve

I'm all for building a smaller, more compact, version of Perl that is as
absurdly restrictive as other languages. We can call it LockBox Perl or
Nope-You-Can't-Do-That-Anymore Perl. Whatever. (There used to be something
like this -- EmbPerl or something but I think it died because the Perl
community didn't like it.) Allow for some special instruction at the top of
scripts that allows you do actually use Perl instead of the locked-down
version. That way corporations can simply say -- 'for project X you CANNOT
use the cool unlock instruction.' Once Perl is in use it becomes easier to
sell them onto more advanced features/syntax.

C: Wait a Minute There...

Here is where I think a marketing campaign would work. I think there is
growth in the Linux user base and folks who want to experiment with the
'coolness' of Linux will inevitably experiment with scripting. The
certification examinations for Linux all center on Bash, so it is no wonder
that it is rising in popularity. If someone took the time to analyze this
they might find the Bash adoption curve mimicking that of Linux adoption or
perhaps Linux certification attempts. If this is correct then a good
strategy might be to steer people toward trying Perl while they are banging
away at the console. Perl was originally built to beat out scripting
alternatives so this is fairly logical.

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 2:10 AM, Johan Vromans <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> http://developers.slashdot.org/story/13/01/29/0235220/perls-glory-days-are-behind-it-but-it-isnt-going-anywhere
>
> We know we suck at marketing, but is there anything we are going to do
> about it?
>
> -- Johan
>



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After skimming the article at the heart of the Slashdot discussion I think =
there are some reasons for the popularity of Perl-alternatives:<br><br>a) L=
arge corporations have supported some languages or standardized on them (Su=
n/Java, Apple/Objective-C).<br>
b) Some languages are hot because of a perceived low learning curve, widesp=
read framework availability and adoption (JavaScript, frameworks like Mooto=
ols, JQuery, et. al.)<br>c) In cases where you would think Perl would be a =
natural choice Bash seems easier in some cases, &quot;people are opting for=
 the simplicity and portability of Bash rather than Perl in these cases...&=
quot;<br>
<br>Prospective Strategies:<br><br>A: Powerhouse Corporate Endorsement<br><=
br>Our beloved computing industry has companies like Apple and Google at th=
e forefront and they are both decidedly un-Perl-friendly. But who would hav=
e ever thought that these companies would be where they are today ten years=
 ago? Certainly not me, that&#39;s for sure. My guess here is that, like ev=
erything in computing, sooner or later the computing market is going to shi=
ft again. Perhaps rather than computers or cell phones we will all start bu=
ying robots or something. Let&#39;s look into the future of computing, what=
ever is coming *after* this round, to become the defacto language. <br>
<br>B: Slash Thine Learning Curve<br><br>I&#39;m all for building a smaller=
, more compact, version of Perl that is as absurdly restrictive as other la=
nguages. We can call it LockBox Perl or Nope-You-Can&#39;t-Do-That-Anymore =
Perl. Whatever. (There used to be something like this -- EmbPerl or somethi=
ng but I think it died because the Perl community didn&#39;t like it.) Allo=
w for some special instruction at the top of scripts that allows you do act=
ually use Perl instead of the locked-down version. That way corporations ca=
n simply say -- &#39;for project X you CANNOT use the cool unlock instructi=
on.&#39; Once Perl is in use it becomes easier to sell them onto more advan=
ced features/syntax.<br>
<br>C: Wait a Minute There...<br><br>Here is where I think a marketing camp=
aign would work. I think there is growth in the Linux user base and folks w=
ho want to experiment with the &#39;coolness&#39; of Linux will inevitably =
experiment with scripting. The certification examinations for Linux all cen=
ter on Bash, so it is no wonder that it is rising in popularity. If someone=
 took the time to analyze this they might find the Bash adoption curve mimi=
cking that of Linux adoption or perhaps Linux certification attempts. If th=
is is correct then a good strategy might be to steer people toward trying P=
erl while they are banging away at the console. Perl was originally built t=
o beat out scripting alternatives so this is fairly logical. <br>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 2:10 AM, Johan Vroma=
ns <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"=
_blank">[email protected]</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"=
gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-=
left:1ex">
<a href=3D"http://developers.slashdot.org/story/13/01/29/0235220/perls-glor=
y-days-are-behind-it-but-it-isnt-going-anywhere" target=3D"_blank">http://d=
evelopers.slashdot.org/story/13/01/29/0235220/perls-glory-days-are-behind-i=
t-but-it-isnt-going-anywhere</a><br>

<br>
We know we suck at marketing, but is there anything we are going to do<br>
about it?<br>
<span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><br>
-- Johan<br>
</font></span></blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><br>

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