Look at Python - it has several compilers, but still it's one and only: "Python". Same for PHP, but there there's only compiler, so language and compiler is the same (I not sure if Quercus project is alive).

The difference between "CFML" and all those other languages: they started out with a definitive open source project rather than a proprietary trademark name. The closest equivalent is probably Java which is "owned" by Oracle (and has a compliance test suite and a licensing model)...?

Hey Sean, I agree with Roddy on this. It's more than just a word, it's the impression one gets from it. For CFML, that impression (and popularity) has declined unfortunately. Python started as a hobby project, Go started with engineers at Google, and as we all know ColdFusion started with the Allaire brothers. Languages get adopted and grow because they solve a problem for the users... But they always have financial investment, Oracle as an example. So for CFML (or whatever name you want to call it) to grow, there will need to be an investor willing to see it through.

@Bill Nourse I'm not sure which part of Roddy's posts you're agreeing with but I certainly agree there is a strong negative connotation for ColdFusion -- and by extension CFML (if non-CF folks even know what that stands for). I don't think you can simply slap a new name on it -- a brand -- and get rid of those connotations, because whatever "brand" you come up with is going to be unknown initially and then you're going to have to explain it is a "brand name" for the family of ColdFusion compilers and you're back to square one 🙂

Yes, like you I believe BL has great potential. I really like it. But it will take an investment on their part to do this right. Posting ads on this channel is not the end of the world, but it isn't helping either ;) Converting CFML devs is one challenge, but converting from other languages is a whole new ballgame.

Oh, agreed on all points. We live in a world where there are a huge number of languages available for all sorts of specialty, and general, problem spaces. I can't actually imagine picking BoxLang for any new project, because these days I want a strongly functional language with baked in immutability. I really don't want to go back to a mutable-by-default language. That seriously limits my choices, so I'm not typical (and I'm not BL's demographic really).