Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.

Re: Why is it Called MacBird?

Author:Dave Winer
Posted:11/17/1999; 5:41:05 AM
Topic:Why is it Called Manila?
Msg #:13137 (In response to 13136)
Prev/Next:13136 / 13139

Blackbird was the codename for a GUI design tool to build networked apps, something like AOL's Rainman, but it got canned when HTML/HTTP took off. This was the 1995 timeframe when MS wasn't sure the Internet and web lifestyle were everything. It was actually a pretty good app, esp since AOL didn't have a GUI design tool for Rainman. (We were talking with AOL about licensing MacBird, but it was very difficult keeping them focused on the idea.)

Oh MacBird. When I was working on surveys.userland.com, it struck me that I could do one of the MacBird demo cards, the Are You Naked? app. That was about two orders of magnitude more complex than the surveys code, which was mind-numbingly complex. Look at how much we've lost. MacBird looks like a masterpiece compared to using the web browser as a UI environment.

Then watching the flailing of Red Hat, I couldn't help think that MacBird might be the cure to their ills. Does Linux want a HyperCard? Something to open it up to graphics people. Wes's comment on Hack The Planet about a strategy beyond throwing money at KDE and Gnome also sparked some thoughts.

I wonder if now isn't the time to release the source for MacBird? The only way it would be worth doing is if there were a developer community that would form around it. The only thing that's comparable is Tcl's UI builder, but I don't think they have a wizzy design app.

I'm just thinking out loud. ";->"

Life is strange

BTW, a disturbing thing, last week I went to Netscape.Com and a popup window tried to sell me on using AOL's client.

Talk about the web selling out! There's Netscape trying to convert me *away* from the web.

Life Is Strange™

Dave

PS: In 1996, Brent put up a MacBird site if people want to check it out.

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