Transcript and Dot Notation

[Scott Kane]

Judy,

I'm not saying this *should* be done, so please take it
in the spirit it is meant, that is pure discussional value.

> Given your list of choices, I'm forced to select (a).  When 
> you're done, will there be sufficient remaining existing and 
> potential users to keep the company afloat?

The Mac end of development is pretty much cornered by Rev,
RealBasic, QT C++ and a few also-rans.  Many developers from
.notation backgrounds (Delphi, VB, C++ Builder and more recently
.Net) would jump at the chance to program for the Mac if they
didn't have to learn a new language construct - which to them
Revolution certainly is.  RealBasic uses .Notation - but it's
buggy, unstable and really rather crude (IMHO).  If a development
platform like Rev existed that had .Notation it would be a tremendous
boon to the Mac software community as it would be quicker and easier
to get up to speed (obvious user interface issues would still be a
learning curve - but then so it is anybody writing for Mac the first
time
using Rev).  Now - if I was running RunRev (and you can all be eternally
glad I'm not <g>) I'd seriously look at creating a new product that did
exactly that.  A .Notation version of Rev.  That would keep the
X-Talkers
happy and would bring in new blood - much faster - IMHO - than Rev does.
I've recommended Rev to several developers who work with Windows
.notation
platforms.  They have all been scared off by transcript as it is as
alien
to them as is .notation to many transcript people.  Interestingly they
have all also reject RealBasic (to buggy), QT C++ (to fragmented) and
several new IDE's currently in the initial stages of release.  I really
do believe RunRev could increase their market share by a larger factor
considering by considering this issue.

It's a compromise.  X-Talks for those that want it or .notation for
those
that do not.  It's not a far stretch as many development platform
companies
(Borland and MS for example) do exactly that with, for example object
Pascal, C++ etc
all under their wing.

Scott