I'd rather spend the entire meeting discussing the language, but my
other purpose in calling the workshop is to assess the business case
for Python. A discussion on forming a Python consortium was added to
the program because some organizations impose restrictions on software
use. These restrictions are inhibiting the spread of Python. Forming
a consortium, or possibly an association may be the least intrusive
mechanism for improving Python's credibility. However, the consensus
may be that any conscience effort to improve Python's legitimacy would
be a waste of time. It may be a very short committee meeting if that
is the sentiment of the group.
Don't read too much into the term steering committee. The term was
suggested by an administrator at NIST. I can call a steering
committee meeting without making an announcement in the Federal
Register. A posting in the Federal Register would probably take a
month to arrange and would require talking to a lawyer.
Michael J. McLay
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Bld 220 Rm A357 (office), Bld 220 Rm B344 (mail)
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, (301)975-4099