Re: advantages of forth over other languages

Stephen Pelc wrote:
> Because they cost money to develop, debug and do***ent.
> 
> Many of the libraries you want actually exist. The're just not free of
> cost.

No software-- not even open source software-- is free of cost.  The 
question is how are those costs recovered.  Increasingly, other 
companies are finding they can release their software as open source, 
and make money not from the software itself, but the sup****t and 
consulting services they provide.

Educate me and explain why this wouldn't work for MPE.  And if Elizabeth 
is reading this, I'd appreciate the same answer for Forth, Inc.  That 
is, what would be the downside of releasing your software for free, 
bootstrapping the community, and ultimately leading to what would be 
increased sales of sup****t and consulting services?  Note that I'm not 
saying to run the clock backward and pretend you are just now starting 
your respective companies.  The year is 2007, and you've both got a 
solid history behind you and resources you likely didn't have when you 
started.