Re: [Caml-list] how to encourage adoption of OCaml?

[sp@orbitalfox.com]

On Thu, Jun 30, 2016 at 06:01:41AM -0400, Dean Thompson wrote:
> But this feels like a fragile new home unless we can build a bigger community!
> For one thing, if our community shrinks much, it may no longer be viable.
> Also, while I love 1,000 packages on opam, I want 100,000!

OCaml's community size has advantages and disadvantages. I started taking
interest almost a year ago, after Haskell. One thing I didn't like about it's
community was that every other month there would be an reincarnation of an
implementation using the latest (immature or ill-conceived at times) conceptual
abstraction.

I'm not suggesting that we should enforce the size; I'm just sayin don't
overstimate the size of the community or volume of packages.

> As a newcomer to the community, I have to say that there are daunting barriers
> to a potential new user considering OCaml for a new project. If you like
> starting on a new programming language with a book, as I do, you likely start
> with Real World OCaml. That book is very inspiring! But then when you try to
> move from RWO to, well, using OCaml in the real world, you discover that there
> is no consensus on Core as a standard library, and that Camlp4 is deprecated.

I agree with you, same findings. You should checkout the IRC channel if you
haven't already. I got a lot of help from the people there in terms of choosing
between options (Core / Batteries)  and explanation of the latest advancments
(camlp4).

My feeling is that most of the folk in the community are serious and to the
point.. like OCaml ;)

> It appears to me that if, instead, you come to OCaml as a potential new user
> through ocaml.org, there are other barriers. It is hard for me to judge
> because I came through RWO, but it appears to me that the lack of consensus on
> standard library comes up pretty quickly.

This is recognised in the community and others have already answered. One day,
hopefully we can have an effective merge of the parallel efforts.
I for one avoid both as much as I can until there is a merge :)

-- 
	SP