This is just to prime the pump...
Some signs that a language is alive (or dead):
- Many people are still productively using it to get stuff done
- Many problems are solvable with the language (but still may be a niche, I suppose)
- MindShare - it may not be the best or brightest, but a lot of people know it and use it
- CorporateInvestment - vendors are actively supporting it to increase or maintain usage (such as updating features, giving it away, etc.)
- New programs/systems are written in it.
Contributors:
JeffMantei 2000-11-28,
JeffGrigg 2000-12-17
Now, it may be that JavaIsDead was more of a ForwardLookingAssertion, in which case it would be interesting to look into the factors that change a language's status, such as:
- Changing set of problems to be solved, lack of interest
- Loss of MindShare for whatever reason (reliability, lack of investment, loss of interest)
- Fierce competition from another language drawing from the same MindShare pool
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JeffMantei 2000-11-28
Nowadays, the language that spawns the most libraries, wins.
Language Life Signs