Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!decwrl!ucbvax!mtxinu!unisoft!fai!sequent!dafuller From: dafuller@sequent.UUCP (David Fuller) Newsgroups: comp.databases Subject: Re: Clarion Professional Developer (rant/rave) Keywords: Clarion review database new speed Message-ID: <41441@sequent.UUCP> Date: 28 Aug 90 05:55:37 GMT References: <1562@wiznet.UUCP> <1564@wiznet.UUCP> Reply-To: dafuller@sequent.UUCP (David Fuller) Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc Lines: 33 I believe that Clarion and its ilk are examples of the axiom that expression does not necessarily imply communication. As a Smalltalk dillitente, I have often bemoaned the lack of a Networked Smalltalk. I love Smalltalk for its expressiveness in the face of a windowed user interface and the delightful conundra it can generate ("let's throw the system clock icon into the trash and see what happens"), but developing a multiuser Smalltalk application leaves me cold. The hooks just aren't there. I have dealt with a number of Expressive Environments. The problem tends to be that they fall victim of their organization's success; that a platform which is productive in the early phases of implementation proves to be a problem during large-scale production. I do not mean to bemoan fast prototyping; the ability to get something going and ideate concepts early is crucial. But I believe that the long end of the software lifecycle demands tools that do not exist in the same quality and quantity as Things Which Generate More Code. I believe that our tool crafting efforts are largely misplaced; that we do not need more development tools. We need production maintenance tools. Hoorah for Clarion and its friends; but let's not get carried away until the other 90% of the software lifecycle are similarly addressed. Dave -- Dave Fuller Sequent Computer Systems Think of this as the hyper-signature. (708) 318-0050 (humans) It means all things to all people. dafuller@sequent.com