4 ms·

People seem to be missing that this is a preview, not a product (yet). And that: "When the language is more stable, we intend to open source D2. This will happ

People seem to be missing that this is a preview, not a product (yet). And that: "When the language is more stable, we intend to open source D2. This will happen sometime in 2022."

stragies 4y ago
Perhaps then "Preview/Beta online service" should be part of the Headline/title.
- sophacles 4y ago
  Perhaps reading the article is a useful way to get information? If the headline contained everything everyone would conceivably want to know, it would be the article. It's not like the headline was misleading: "a new $tool" is a common phrase for software in alpha and beta stages.
  - stragies 4y ago
    So, to you, "Tool" or "Language" do NOT imply that you can use it independently of a specific online service? I mean, I agree, that "new" is marketing speak for "alpha/beta", but -to me- there is a difference between a "language/tool" and a "Single-Vendor-WebService". Or is my understanding of the semantics of the English language outdated?
    - sophacles 4y ago
      Not even outdated - just incorrect. There have been proprietary tools longer than there have been computers, it's the point of patents - grant a monopoly on your proprietary tool for X years in exchange for making it's workings public knowledge. Even patents aside, why wouldn't this D2 thing qualify as: COMPUTING a piece of software that carries out a particular function, typically creating or modifying another program. (source: google "define tool") While it isn't creating or modifying a program, I'd consider "parsing text in a specific syntax to create a diagram" more like a compiler than a site that just provides information or crud sites with some forms. I'm not entirely certain how where it runs affects it's tool status, but it certainly is a consideration to be made while evaluating it for any particular use case. (also from define tool: a thing used in an occupation or pursuit. and depending on where you stand on the "thingness" of software may also apply here, but that feels diversionary) I can think of quite a few single vendor languages - various IBM mainframe languages like JCL, K, matlab, multiple .Net and MS languages until recently, applescript, etc.
setr 4y ago
In D2 Tour video, at 4:30, they say > When it's more stable, we will be open-sourcing the language. If thats the case, that only the language will be open-sourced, not the visualization, then I'm not entirely sure what that really gets you, beyond perhaps alternative editors? But its the layout algorithms that are actually notable.
- nhooyr 4y ago
  Terrastruct engineer here. The visualization will be open source though I can't say for sure yet whether it'll be with our layout algorithm or with https://github.com/dagrejs/dagre https://github.com/dagrejs/dagre.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

People seem to be missing that this is a preview, not a product (yet). And that: "When the language is more stable, we intend to open source D2. This will happen sometime in 2022."

stragies 4y ago

Perhaps then "Preview/Beta online service" should be part of the Headline/title.

sophacles 4y ago
Perhaps reading the article is a useful way to get information? If the headline contained everything everyone would conceivably want to know, it would be the article. It's not like the headline was misleading: "a new $tool" is a common phrase for software in alpha and beta stages.
- stragies 4y ago
  So, to you, "Tool" or "Language" do NOT imply that you can use it independently of a specific online service? I mean, I agree, that "new" is marketing speak for "alpha/beta", but -to me- there is a difference between a "language/tool" and a "Single-Vendor-WebService". Or is my understanding of the semantics of the English language outdated?
  - sophacles 4y ago
    Not even outdated - just incorrect. There have been proprietary tools longer than there have been computers, it's the point of patents - grant a monopoly on your proprietary tool for X years in exchange for making it's workings public knowledge. Even patents aside, why wouldn't this D2 thing qualify as: COMPUTING a piece of software that carries out a particular function, typically creating or modifying another program. (source: google "define tool") While it isn't creating or modifying a program, I'd consider "parsing text in a specific syntax to create a diagram" more like a compiler than a site that just provides information or crud sites with some forms. I'm not entirely certain how where it runs affects it's tool status, but it certainly is a consideration to be made while evaluating it for any particular use case. (also from define tool: a thing used in an occupation or pursuit. and depending on where you stand on the "thingness" of software may also apply here, but that feels diversionary) I can think of quite a few single vendor languages - various IBM mainframe languages like JCL, K, matlab, multiple .Net and MS languages until recently, applescript, etc.

setr 4y ago

In D2 Tour video, at 4:30, they say > When it's more stable, we will be open-sourcing the language. If thats the case, that only the language will be open-sourced, not the visualization, then I'm not entirely sure what that really gets you, beyond perhaps alternative editors? But its the layout algorithms that are actually notable.

nhooyr 4y ago
Terrastruct engineer here. The visualization will be open source though I can't say for sure yet whether it'll be with our layout algorithm or with https://github.com/dagrejs/dagre https://github.com/dagrejs/dagre.

deleted 4y ago

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