[Sugar-devel] Journal criticism (or not)

[Tomeu Vizoso]

On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 18:16, James Simmons <jim.simmons at walgreens.com> wrote:
> My two cents:
>
> When I started programming computers 30+ years ago data was stored in
> punch cards and reels of tape.  Disk storage was available, but too
> expensive to use to store large amounts of data.  (I didn't hear the
> word "gigabyte" until the late 80's).  In classes at college I studied
> database management systems.  The book had ONE chapter on relational
> databases.  There was some question back then if one of these could
> actually be built.
>
> For versioning of files we used something called a GDG (generation data
> group).
>
> The first interactive computer system I got to use was VM.  Everyone in
> the system had the illusion of having a whole mainframe to himself.  If
> you wanted to send someone else some COBOL code you'd use the "spool
> punch" command, because that was virtually like having the machine punch
> up a deck of 80 column cards and handing that deck to the person.  We
> used fixed length records for most things, because there was no way to
> make a variable length punched card.
>
> Later, at the same time I got my first PC, I also started programming
> IBM's new AS400, which had libraries, files, and members.  Everything on
> the box had those three levels of hierarchy: no more, no less.
>
> Everything I have listed above is still in use today.  Most of them
> predate hierarchical folders.
>
> Now the thing about Sugar is that it is NOT about teaching the kid how
> to use a computer.  It's about teaching him everything, using the
> computer to help.  It's about teaching art with Colors, music with Tam
> Tam, creative writing with Write, math with a whole bunch of Activities,
> History, Language, and Literature with the various reading Activities,
> etc.  Learning about computers is in there too, with Pippy, etc. but
> it's not the main focus.
>
> I think of the Journal as a DBMS that stores and organizes various kinds
> of objects.  Sure, it uses files and directories underneath but so does
> a DBMS and nobody thinks of a DBMS that way except the guy who wrote it.

Nice write up ;)

> The Journal is a real selling point for Sugar.  My criticism of the
> Journal is:
>
> 1).  It doesn't live up to its potential.  It should be MORE like it
> already is.
> 2).  It should stop pretending that other ways of organizing files (on
> thumb drives) are as good as it is.  They are not.  They are crude
> visitors from a foreign land and should be treated as such.

I agree with that, we have learned a lot during these past years and
we have a clearer view of what is important to tackle next. If only
days had more hours...

Cheers,

Tomeu


> James Simmons
>
>
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