<snip>
The decision on perl 5 vs perl 6 naming is more revolutionary but it
IS hurting
Perl. I love Perl but it has an image problem.
True. Would a name change now have much effect?
If Perl didn't have an image problem,
Python never would have become so popular.
Mmmm. ???? That is a very strong assertion and diminishes Python and its
developers. It's the sort of statement that can't easily be tested. More
a belief.
Perl used to be THE scripting
language.
True. And C was THE programming language. Life moves on. And in circles.
Fashions come and go, and what was fashionable can again be so.
It doesn't matter that it is still around and still continuing to be
developed.
What matters is people's PERCEPTIONS of Perl (dead, dieing,
irrelevant, etc).
Too little was done for too long about Perl's image. It may be too
late to bring it
back into the forefront as it used to be.
Being excited about a language and using it for cool things - and
broadcasting to the world that its cool will do more to change
perceptions that Perl is cool, than a name change to Camilea.
As you said: Perceptions are the most important thing.
