Going Forward
Ken G. Brown
kbrown at tnc.ab.ca
Sat Dec 18 21:09:36 UTC 2004
With respect to Craig's 'Flow', I have been thinking about the
inertia caused by the perceived need to make major system changes
backward compatible.
I used to think that my current situation in life has been determined
as a result of the sum total of past events and I was sorta stuck
with what had gone before. Now, I prefer to think of my present as
being determined by my desired future. Get a clear picture in mind of
the desired future and today's decisions become much easier, being
made towards achieving the desired future.
At each decision point, the decision can be made towards improving
the quality of that future picture by bringing it into clearer focus.
From this point of view, I think it may be best to get a clear view
of the future of Squeak, then do today what is necessary to create
that picture without worrying about the backward compatibility. Those
that need to and want to, will do the required changes to also
partake in that desired future, those that don't can remain with
whatever works for them. The backwards compatibility issues I believe
could most appropriately be dealt with by those parts of the system
that have the issues, thereby reducing the inertia for going forward.
In the past, if this way of thinking would have been in vogue, we
would most likely already be running with Craig's 'Flow' in the
system. I'm assuming from other opinions that would be a good thing...
The desired future of Squeak determines what we do today, as opposed
to what was done in the past...
Of course.
Mark Twain evidently wrote: "Twenty years from now you will be more
disappointed by the things you didn't do than the ones you did."
Ken G. Brown
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