Lambda the Ultimate

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(via PLNews)

A few months ago, I received some mail from Dr. Dobb's Journal informing me that I qualified for a free subscription. Unlike some of the other free rags out there, Dr. Dobb's seemed genuinely useful, so I accepted. The first issue I received was Java only. The issue I am looking at now covers Java, C, C++, C# and .NET. So for casual free reading, it's OK, but it really doesn't have much impact on what I do. Even though I know Java and C, I really don't care about them.

Even though Dr. Dobb's is not narrow (it's even had articles on Prolog), it's largely useless to me due to its understandably heavy focus on languages with "market share". Despite that, there are times when it has fantastic articles that really pique my curiosity. I just want it to be more consistently relevant to me. What I want is a magazine like Dr. Dobb's that focuses primarily in dynamic programming languages.

Imagine a "Dynamic Languages Journal" which focuses on Perl, Python, PHP, Javascript, Ruby, etc. It has an "Exotic (to non-LtU readers) Languages" corner which has introductory articles on Prolog, Squeek, Haskell and similar beasts. Exciting new developments like Open JSAN can be covered and has columns covering the philosophical discussions that some love and others hate. That's what I would subscribe to in a heartbeat. Further, by having a professionally produced magazine like that, it would even further drive the "respectability" of the powerful tools that we appreciate even if outsiders don't.

Note: this was originally posted to my Perl journal and some folks seemed interested. In fact, the editor and publisher of the Perl Review has stated he wants to start such a magazine, but he needs editors who have the subject matter expertise. I'm sure a few folks around here would be qualified.