[fpc-pascal] OT: Rename for Pascal

[Tom Walsh]

ik wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I wonder how can we make Pascal and FPC more attractive to people, and
> I believe in what Donal Knuth have said:
>
> "The most important thing in the programming language is the name. A
> language will not succeed without a good name. I have recently
> invented a very good name and now I am looking for a suitable
> language."
>
> So I believe that  if we will change the name, it might help. What do
> you think ? And what name will you prefer to see FPC as ?
>
>   

FWIW, I am in the early stages of a commercial development using Free 
Pascal and have to submit weekly progress reports.  I cringe whenever I 
have to put the phrase "Free Pascal Compiler" in the report!  This 
project is with a company that just spent 4+ million US dollars on a 
Java solution (client and server side) to replace all their old Pascal 
code, then, their clients told them they didn't like the Java solution, 
that they wanted to keep using the Pascal stuff!

Not that the compiler is junky, but the word "Free" does have a negative 
connotation.  Many business people still associate "free software" with 
that of being low-quality.  Business people are used to paying thousands 
of dollars for any development software worthy of notice, the word 
"free" doesn't fit into their thinking.

Using the word "free" while reporting, or talking to them, about the 
project is an oxymoron. I am not "free", I get a substantial hourly rate.

If you renamed it to the "Open Source Pascal Compiler" it would be more 
accurate?

Oh, and please, please change the name soon, ok?  I have a lot more of 
these reports to write...


Regards,

TomW


-- 
Tom Walsh - WN3L - Embedded Systems Consultant
http://openhardware.net http://cyberiansoftware.com http://openzipit.org
"Windows? No thanks, I have work to do..."
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