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Viewpoints Research Institute concluded its operations at the beginning of 2018

vpri.org

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Re: Viewpoints Research Institute concluded its operations at the beginning of 2018

#2

Post by beaconstudios »

For those who are unaware, this was headed by Alan Kay and was researching various concepts in human-computer interaction, including ideas about the future of coding (http://www.vpri.org/work/ifnct.htm).

It's a real shame to see them close up shop, we need that kind of research to continue.

Re: Viewpoints Research Institute concluded its operations at the beginning of 2018

#5

Post by cztomsik »

DennisP wrote: post #4

Dang. I used to look forward to the 20KLOC OS/GUI/IDE. I guess they never really achieved that. Maybe it was just time for Alan Kay to retire.

yeah OMeta - interesting idea thanks for noting this, I was unaware (busy with other things lately)

Re: Viewpoints Research Institute concluded its operations at the beginning of 2018

#7

Post by david927 »

beaconstudios wrote: post #2

For those who are unaware, this was headed by Alan Kay and was researching various concepts in human-computer interaction, including ideas about the future of coding ( http://www.vpri.org/work/ifnct.htm ). It's a real shame to see them close up shop, we need that kind of research to continue.

I know of a 10 room mansion in Tuscany, Italy that could house a group of future of coding researchers for a year, starting in September. It would work out to €500/month for room and board.

But would anyone be up for it?

Re: Viewpoints Research Institute concluded its operations at the beginning of 2018

#8

Post by chillpenguin »

DennisP wrote: post #4

Dang. I used to look forward to the 20KLOC OS/GUI/IDE. I guess they never really achieved that. Maybe it was just time for Alan Kay to retire.

Is it true that they never achieved it? I thought they basically did. You can see the system in action in various talks by Alan Kay.

Re: Viewpoints Research Institute concluded its operations at the beginning of 2018

#9

Post by _1tan »

david927 wrote: post #7
beaconstudios wrote: post #2

For those who are unaware, this was headed by Alan Kay and was researching various concepts in human-computer interaction, including ideas about the future of coding ( http://www.vpri.org/work/ifnct.htm ). It's a real shame to see them close up shop, we need that kind of research to continue.

I know of a 10 room mansion in Tuscany, Italy that could house a group of future of coding researchers for a year, starting in September. It would work out to €500/month for room and board. But would anyone be up for it?

here

Re: Viewpoints Research Institute concluded its operations at the beginning of 2018

#10

Post by chubot »

chillpenguin wrote: post #8
DennisP wrote: post #4

Dang. I used to look forward to the 20KLOC OS/GUI/IDE. I guess they never really achieved that. Maybe it was just time for Alan Kay to retire.

Is it true that they never achieved it? I thought they basically did. You can see the system in action in various talks by Alan Kay.

I would like to see it too, and I even referred to it in a comment a few days ago. Did they release the code or just describe it in papers and talks?

A cursory look at the website and Googling says the latter, which is a shame. The research would be more impactful with source code. There's no reason not to release the source, and if you fail to do so, you can't really complain if practitioners don't pick up those techniques :)

I think OMeta was related and that is released, but IMO it's not that practical.

-----

Thread from 5 years ago that is not that flattering of their work: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11686325

Oh it actually points to some more source: https://github.com/damelang/nile

Although I think it's easy to pick on different parts; there's definitely value to having a holistic system and design. But it would be better if we could see all of it instead of just the parts

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