Here is the short version.
Rackets website does not sell Racket, it does not answer the WHY, someone should choose racket to solve problems. It’s not clear as to the benefits of using racket, it’s not clear what advantage I get for choosing Racket over something like Python for web development, etc. It seems as if Rackets website is more suited towards someone who already measure the pro and cons of using a lisp like language, an individual who has already consciously made the decision to go with Racket, instead of showcasing the strengths of Racket to the uninitiated. For example, let’s say you had some problem that you needed to solve and you had no idea about Racket or Python, and the only information you can get is from their respective web pages. Which language would you choose and why? >From my understanding, many of you use Racket to get real work done. What is the reason behind your choice? What benefits does using racket have above using a more popular language? Why are these reasons not highlighted on Rackets website? As I said in an above post, I am a just a beginner, I have little to no idea what it means to refractor your code, design patterns, or any of the other jargon used in the software industry. Don’t concentrate on the specifics of my critique, try to look at the overall point I am trying to make…..The Racket website does not sell Racket. Here is another example, many of you work in the software industry. If you where to ask your coworkers what macros are, what would they say? Would they even understand the benefits the macros system in Racket brings? If you ask them about language-oriented programming, what would they say? Would they truly understand what it is, and the benefits it brings? Do your coworkers even understand how special Racket is? Even If the answer is yes to these questions, in addition to what is already there, are some of the things that should also be highlighted on Rackets website. Longer version Let me refine my critique of Racket web presence. We are talking about making Racket more popular, not the functionalities of the Racket language. There is a lot less noise around Racket than other more popular languages. This is an advantage that the Racket community can exploit. Because of the lack of popularity, IMHO the Racket community needs utilize Racket webpage to SELL the use of racket as a possible solution to various problems. For example, let’s look at Python. I choose Python here not to compare Python capabilities to Racket but because it is one of the most popular languages in use today. Imagine if you knew nothing about programing but had problem you needed to solve and you landed on the Python website. Out side of the tabs, you see that “Python is a programming language that lets you work quickly and integrate systems more effectively” Notice, it does not say that python is a scripting language or use some sort of computing jargon to describe Python. It use words that a non-programmer can understand. It simple, and to the point. If you would conduct the same exercise with Racket you see “Racket solves problems-make languages”. To me it reads that Racket solves problems by making languages. This sounds more complex than it needs to be. WHY do I want to complicate my problem by making a language? What I want to do is to solve my problem as efficiently as possible. Making a language seems like an unneeded extra step. Now my view of Racket is tainted by that statement. As I continue to explore the site, I learn that Racket is cross-platform, etc. I also learn that Racket has various packages for web applications, math and statistics, etc. Mind you my view of racket has already been formed, when I click on web applications I am greeted with an tutorial on web applications in Racket. But there is still no answer as to WHY solving problems by making languages would be beneficial in my use case. Compare that to Python website, when you click on Django, by the Web Development tab. You are greeted by “Django makes it easier to build better web apps more quickly and with less code” Which is totally in line with the mission statement above. We also learn that Django is “ridiculously fast, Reassuringly secure, Exceedingly scalable” again Python is answering the WHY, and its Answer is totally aligned with its mission statement. When you go to the racket website and explore it, you are greeted with “Racket is a general -purpose programming language as well as the world’s first ecosystem for language -oriented programming. Make your dream language, or use one of the dozen already available” What does that mean? What is language -oriented programming? How do these things help me solve my problems? The section powerful macros and languages seems to be able to answer some of these questions. When you roll over it, it claims that’s Racket crown jewel is it’s macro system. The problem here, again is that it does not SELL the use of macros. Are these macros similar to what you may find in another language? How does this “crown jewel” help me solve problems? What are the benefits of using macros? In short racket website is not clear as to why I should take more time in exploring Racket. It’s not clear as to why I should use Racket to solve problems. Racket website seems to be geared more to educating those who are familiar with lisp like languages on the use of racket, and not really about selling the use of racket. It does not attempt to educate an outsider on the benefits of using such a language. Rackets website does not answer the WHY behind using Racket. On Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 6:53:41 PM UTC-5, Neil Van Dyke wrote: > > This might be a bad idea, and normally I disapprove of this sort of > thing, but... does anyone want to take on the job of RACKET EVANGELISM > STRIKE FORCE, among a concentration of startup-types and other software > practitioners? > > Specifically, you'd participate regularly in Y Combinator's popular > "Hacker News" Web forum, "https://news.ycombinator.com/";, and, when the > not-unusual occasion to mention/show a strength of Racket presents > itself, do so. > > I occasionally see Racket mentioned on HN, but not nearly as often as it > legitimately could be. > > (There are also other strategic targets for the RACKET EVANGELISM STRIKE > FORCE operator or cell, and I recall Eli Barzilay and others active on a > lot of them years ago, but HN might be first priority right now.) > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Racket Users" group. 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