R3 now on Linux and OSX

We reached a significant milestone today with the first alpha release of R3 for Linux and Mac OSX.

Yes, we still have a lot more work to do to get all of the standard devices (what we call the separate modular components in the new system) working, but the good news is that such development work can now be done by others who have greater expertise in those areas, and it can be done in parallel with the remaining R3 development and testing.

A significant part of this milestone was structural. We tend to forget how much work goes into these early days of setting up directories and scripts to make the system build as seamlessly as possible. Our goal is that even a first-year computer science student should be able to enhance or customize the R3 environment or extend on the wide range of device components.

Indeed, this is the start of a much bigger test of REBOL... allowing contributions to what will be 75% or more of the code base.

Of course, not to discourage anyone, but we're going to be careful and choosy about what becomes part of R3. We've got our standards. We still value small, fast, and smart. REBOL is about getting great advantage and leverage from a well-designed tool, not about becoming yet another bloated and hard-to-manage computer language.

But, now that's been said, if you have the expertise and knowledge to contribute to the project, and you really enjoy fine-tuned engines, please do not hesitate to contact Gabriele or myself.

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