On 04/06/2005, at 12:28 AM, Jay Reeve wrote:


> Hi,
>
> The list seems rather quiet, as it often is these days, so I  
> thought I might be forgiven for some old-timer musings on how this  
> list has changed over the years.
>
> I've been reminiscing about the traffic we used to see here a few  
> years ago. It had the same kinds of discussion we see now, but more  
> of it. It had a tolerable (usually) amount of silliness, which kept  
> things light-hearted and fun. It also had a good number of  
> questions about fundamental programming techniques and basic how-to  
> advice that we're seeing very little of these days. That leads me  
> to ask, where have all the beginners gone....
>
> 1. Has FB programming gotten so easy that beginners are finding  
> their way without help from this list? (Doubtful.)
>
> 2. Is there another forum filling that need? (I'm unaware of it.)
>
> 3. Are the beginners too intimidated to post? (Possible--in fact  
> I've been accused, much to my chagrin, of contributing to that  
> intimidation--but I'm skeptical.)
>
> 4. Is FB attracting fewer new users and new programmers? (This  
> seems to me the most plausible explanation.)
>
>
> I recall why I first bought Z-Basic (FB's progenitor), back in the  
> middle of the Iron Age.... I saw a magazine ad that compared Z- 
> Basic to C (or C++, or both, I don't remember), claiming:
>
> 1. Z-Basic was easier to learn and easier to use
>
> 2. Z-Basic compiled faster
>
> 3. Z-Basic ran faster
>
> 4. Z-Basic made tighter (smaller) code
>
> 5. Z-Basic offered full access to the Mac Toolbox
>
> 6. Z-Basic provided 99% of the available capabilities
>
> 7. Z-Basic was significantly less expensive
>
> I suspect all of those are still true of FB4 today. Well, maybe  
> we're down to 98% capability now that we can only compile code  
> resources by reverting to FBII. The problem is most likely that the  
> cost of running such ads has become prohibitive, or at least less  
> cost-effective.
>
> So my purpose in opening this thread is not to elicit more  
> reminiscing, and certainly not to invite finger-pointing or  
> diatribes about FB's shortcomings, but to initiate some  
> brainstorming about how we, or Staz with our help, could entice  
> more new users and beginning programmers. I can't  imagine there's  
> a better vehicle for learning the basics of programming. It's a  
> great product, consistently getting better.
>
> I miss those beginner questions, along with the energy and  
> excitement of discovery that comes with them. How can we get them  
> back?
>

Tried a frontal lobotomy


>
>  e-e
>  =J= a  y
>

ps:

if you have 10.4, try holding down ctrl-cmd-d and pointing the mouse  
at words on the screen


Pete...                          (the other one)

                              "Not those voices again..."

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