I-APL as a commercial enterprise

Transcribed from the printed issue; not yet reviewed. Read it in the PDF of the issue, page 10

The report of the I-APL board (Vector - October 1989) was very interesting. What I did find surprising was the statement, by Ed Cherlin, that there was a need to generate cash flow. I also found it surprising that the board thought "... that I-APL should move towards being a more commercial enterprise ...".

In my experience, cash flow and commercial enterprises go hand in hand with selling, and that selling usually results in sales. Any commercial enterprise that doesn’t sell doesn’t generate cash, and eventually disappears without trace.

The point of my letter is this: earlier I ordered an upgrade of I-APL, together with some other library diskettes. To date it still hasn’t arrived. All that I have received is a note that the library has not operated this year.

Wither APL nem con

Andrew Wiggins
Manager - Computer Systems Development