[Python-Dev] Re: Stability and change

[Alex Martelli]

On Monday 08 April 2002 06:31 pm, Christopher Petrilli wrote:
	...
> Are the conservative forces truly the majority, or are they simply the most
> vocal?  Often those whose voices are loudest represent the smallest
> percentage of the population.  Perhaps the best thing to do is to take a
> poll, or something.  This isn't great, but it certainly is more indicative
> than a self-selecting group that complaint about something.  WE all know

If you poll people who are using a language that's "churning very
often", you WILL get a self-selecting group biased towards being
happy with that rate of churning.

What I think is that Python's user base could be expanded if (without
making that group sad: keeping an experimental track with frequent
churning around!!!) we could have a parallel, stabler track.

> certainly, one must weigh the importance of having a specific user.  If we
> had thousands of individuals clamoring for a new process, it would sway me
> more than a few vocal people.

How would we get the people who won't use Python because they
don't perceive it as stable enough for their needs to "clamor" for
changes to its release tracks?-)  I can't "sell" Python to those people
until I pass that roadblock.


> > Try telling Logajan or Rubin that. :-(
>
> There will always be disagreement with the decisions, regardless of what
> the decision might be.  The goal is to please a majority.

A majority of EXISTING users, or a majority of those we COULD have
with more language stability?-)

We can please BOTH... by doing dual tracks... 

At least, it worked wonderfully for Linux.  Which is where I started
this whole thread of discussion...



Alex