Ruby is the first language in 30 years I actually find interesting compared
to Smalltalk.  Mostly it is enough like Smalltalk with a few interesting
twists, and has much better momentum in the mainstream.  It of course has
poor performance because it is not supported by a large corporation yet.
But, the ease of working at the meta class level and the approach to class
specification is very interesting.  All statements are executable, even
those that incrementally create a class definition.  So rather than a large
multi-part method send as in Smalltalk each aspect of the class definition
is a separate method send to the class object itself, with full run-time
class modification supported.  Now all it needs is a good VM and a GUI!

As to the real question you raise, I have not seen interesting programming
language research in 25 years.  I think things are heating up for the next
round of language experimentation however.  All the signs are there for
another period of broad experimentation reminiscent of the 70s.

Michael


> -----Original Message-----
> From: squeak-dev-bounces at lists.squeakfoundation.org [mailto:squeak-dev-
> bounces at lists.squeakfoundation.org] On Behalf Of Brad Fuller
> Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 1:48 PM
> To: The general-purpose Squeak developers list
> Subject: Where's the new Smalltalk?
> 
> The various recent discussions such as: Strongtalk's
> strengths/weaknesses, should it be included in Squeak; the power of
> eToys; Lisp's power; the Lisp Machine; what Smalltalk has brought to the
> world of computing that is just now being recognized (syntax, typing,
> bitmapped displays); on and on ---- got me wondering about today's
> research:
> 
> If Lisp/Smalltalk (and their significant predecessors) have contributed
> so much to computing - and so long ago - wouldn't you think that
> someone, somewhere, is developing the next significant contribution(s)?
> What R&D (or just plain "D") is currently in the labs that you feel will
> be a significant contribution to computing in the near future? (I
> know... tough question if the work is in a secret lab. And, who can
> predict the future?)
> 
> I've heard Alan say that he wished that they had something else, other
> than Squeak, to use for Croquet. But, Squeak is the best thing right now
> for Croquet. Why? Is the answer merely a funding issue? Are schools at
> fault (I've also heard Alan lambaste Stanford regarding their Java
> curriculum) ? Do gov grants ignore the little guy in favor of
> universities?
> 
> What's your take on it?