D : Not for me anymore

[Bill Baxter]

rm wrote:

> If other reasonings can/need be give, please do so ..
> 
> So back to libraries for D in D :-)
> What could be the reasons the Senior Darch is *ignoring* this?
> - he doesn't see a need for it (right now)
>    => so it's low on his priority list
> - he doesn't have the resources to coordinate such an effort
> - he's planning to release D 1.0 before starting to think on libraries
>    => are we talking about specifications for libraries
>    => are we talking about a specific implementation (license?)
> - building libraries when important features are still being added
>    => that might be regrettable in the not to distant future
>    => when do you start with "standard" libraries, when do you stop
> evolving the language
> - are we talking about minimal batteries, or full blown batteries?

I think a batteries-included distribution would be a great help.
The current situation makes it more difficult than it needs to be to get 
going with D.  There's good stuff out there but you have to get this bit 
from here, then download dbuild from there, and mango from there etc etc.

A batteries-included version should include
* the best of the best from Dsource,
* all the bindings and wrappers that are out there (SDL, GL, system 
headers, wxD etc)
* editor integration scripts & tools from the wiki
* and numerous sample programs that demonstrate good D coding practices
* and samples showing how to accomplish various tasks in D
   > text processing
   > shell-script type things
   > a little game demo
   > GUI programming
   > template metaprogramming
   > good use of modules
   > numerical computing
   > etc...).
* And it should have an installer for platforms where that makes sense.

This seems like it would be a very good thing to have ready for the 
official 1.0 release.  The 1.0 announcement will at the very least get 
attention from Slashdot I'm sure, and probably from other quarters of 
the net as well.  It would be good if the folks who come poking to see 
what 1.0 looks like were greeted with a user-friendly package that gives 
them everything they need to be productive with D, and see instantly how 
useful D is for a wide variety of things.

I think most of this stuff exists already, except maybe sample programs, 
but it's more a matter of putting it all together and getting permission 
from everyone to bundle it all up into one package.

I don't have the time (or knowledge) to make such a beast, but I'd 
surely be willing to do testing of it (the Windows version, anyway).

--bb