Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!pitt!willett!ForthNet
From: ForthNet@willett.pgh.pa.us (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: Feedback to the Forth Interest Group
Message-ID: <2429.UUL1.3#5129@willett.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 4 Mar 91 13:19:09 GMT
Organization: (n.) to be organized.  But that's not important right now.
Lines: 44


 Date: 02-26-91 (08:46)              Number: 1344 of 1349
   To: JONAH THOMAS                  Refer#: NONE
 From: CHARLIE HITSELBERGER            Read: NO
 Subj: ORGANIZATION                  Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE
 Conf: FORTH (58)                 Read Type: GENERAL (+)

 Actually, I was being semi-sarcastic.  However, I *REALLY* would like to
 see an organization that would bring Forth to me, the low-end hobbyist.
 If only there were some organization that embodied the enthusiasm and
 altruistic sharing that was so commonplace in the early days of
 personal computing.  Back then, there was the Homebrew Computer Club,
 the T.R.A.N.S.I.S.T.O.R.S. (see Ted Nelson's "Computer Lib/Dream
 Machines"), and lots of readily available, free help for the asking.
 Doctor Dobbs published entire language implementations in print!

 I am not advocating a return to these archaic technologies.  While my
 favorite machine is a Commodore 64, I earn my living on a relatively
 high-end machine (a microVAX).  What I do want to see is a return to
 that computer Camelot when guys like Jobs and Woz would build a machine
 in their garage that would quite literally capture the imagination of
 millions.

 What I see instead is more and more MS-DOS regimentation, creeping UNIX,
 and cyber-yuppies who hand you a business card when you ask them a
 question, instead of answering it with a two-hour arm-waving monologue.
 Perhaps now that computing power is so commonplace, the sense of urgency
 to spread literacy is diminished.

 Forth appears to be a declining language, being replaced for the most
 part by C.  Jack, I see in you signs of that spark that can keep an
 enthusiastic Forth following alive.  So in one sense, my suggestion that
 a new user group be formed was genuine.

 Charlie Hitselberger

 PCRelay:DCINFO -> #16 MetroLink (tm) International Network
 4.10              DC Info Exchange MetroLink International Hub
 <<<>>>
-----
This message came from GEnie via willett.  You *cannot* reply to the author
using e-mail.  Please post a follow-up article, or use any instructions
the author may have included (USMail addresses, telephone #, etc.).
Report problems to: dwp@willett.pgh.pa.us _or_ uunet!willett!dwp