The languages have split a long time ago. Most people don't believe that Perl 6 is "the next version of Perl". The language is different enough that "Perl 6" isn't an appropriate name.

At the most recent London Perl Workshop, 'Perl 6' was only mentioned during a single lightning talk - and the plea was to call it something else (Rakudo was suggested). As the speaker (Edmund von der Burg) said: each time you say "Perl 6", Perl5 dies a little.

IMO, Rakudo (or Perl 6) will not make Perl 5 die, just as Ruby, PHP or Kurilla did not kill Perl 5. Perl 5 will only "die" if people stop maintaining it* - and even then it will die only slowly. It's only truely dead if noone uses it anymore.

* Which means that it's up to you (a generic you, not just Tony). Musing about whether Perl 5 will die or replaced by Perl 6 on Perlmonks doesn't help Perl 5 at all. If you want Perl 5 to keep living, contribute. Write patches. Write bug reports. Write tests. Add to the documentation. That matters. If people stop contributing, Perl 5 will die, regardless what Perl 6 will do. If people contribute, Perl 5 will live, regardless what Perl 6 will do.

In reply to Re: Will Perl 6 Replace Perl 5? by JavaFan
in thread Will Perl 6 Replace Perl 5? by aecooper

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