We need a nickname

Ok, I just had a conversation with a colleague about LWJGL and I can tell you it was VERY painful. A 5 letter acronym doesn’t roll off the tongue. I resorted to calling it Lewgoll. Heh. Has anyone ever considered a real name for the product? I know it may not seem important, but I’m bored right now.

Secondly, how low level is LWJGL going to stay? I.e. will there be any utilities added to the package? Such as model loaders, image loaders, etc?

Keep up the good work guys.

could call it java game lib…

[quote] Secondly, how low level is LWJGL going to stay? I.e. will there be any utilities added to the package? Such as model loaders, image loaders, etc?
[/quote]
LWJGL (or java game lib) will stay low level - however we want to do an optional package which could include all sorts of optional stuff… but we can only do |–| so much work… - but we’re struggling to get 1.0 out of the door.

We’ll probably have a “whats in store for the future” talk one of these days - which will most likely include talking about doing optional packages. SPGL will not be part of the optional package though, since it’s more of a framework (not entirely correct - but along those lines) (correct me if I am wrong Cas). But loading of models (common), texture stuff all those kind of things - will slowly be added to a lwjgl_optional.jar package I reckon - sort of like ANT’s optional package.

Hey!
LWGL is a superb name, I can say it 500 times a second (really). How about calling it Herbie? I remember this movie about a car that “lived” and could drive without a driver. It could also talk by “beeping” and in some way, some people understood what he beeped about.

Btw when is 0.6 coming out? :wink:

“LWGL is a superb name, I can say it 500 times a second”

Ahhh, but you forgot the J… not so easy is it? :slight_smile:

[quote] Btw when is 0.6 coming out?
[/quote]
any of these days… - we’ll probably build the pre 0.6 today, and then test it for a day or two before releasing.

We just need to nail two recent issues:

  • OpenAL seach for library code, might be broken on linux
  • add Serialize keyword to vector classes

When this is done, preferably tonight, we ready to go…

The horrible name was the first thing that struck me about LWJGL too. I think the name can seriosuly hinder widespread adoption of the API and should be replaced ASAP. I also think Java Game Lib is too general since it makes me want to ask “What java game lib?”.

A few things to think about when picking a name, from branding guru Al Ries (elaborations found in The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding and other books):

  1. The name should not be generic so that it can cause confusion and prompt questions like the one in my first paragraph.
  2. The name should be short, counting syllables rather than letters since it is how the name sounds, rather than how it looks, that is important for recall. OpenGL is in this respect just as long as Java Game Lib.
  3. It is good if the name is somewhat shocking (Diehard batteries, monster.com etc.) though one has to be careful about that.
  4. It’s good for recall if the name contains alliterations (Coca-Cola).
  5. The name is also easier to use on the internet if it is short letter-wise and/or uses a limited set of letters (Coca-Cola is an 8-letter word that is still very good for the internet since it just uses 4 different letters).

Anyway, one should not feel too limited by those suggestions. The goal should really be to find some proper name that conveys the right kind of feeling about the product.

Good luck to ya! (back to work on my Java3D project)

[quote]I think the name can seriosuly hinder widespread adoption of the API and should be replaced ASAP.
[/quote]
Though I agree that the name could be much better, I seriously believe that any decision to use an API (or not to use) based on the name of the API is insane!

I don’t think the name of the API will influence the choice of the developer, and if it does - so be it. But it’s got our attention now - just going to be a problem with package names altering, and people having to recompile and all related problems - so don’t bet on it. It’s a marketing problem ::slight_smile:

“Low Juggle” or just “Juggle” depending on how important the LW part of LWJGL is to everyone.

Of course, juggling is a bit of a crap passtime, but it is short and it makes words out of the letters. Probably the kind of thing you need.

Well - I am starting to like the nickname Jugs - but that might just be me… ;D

Hay doods Jugs is pretty good.

Yeah, Jugs is good :slight_smile:

“Of course, juggling is a bit of a crap passtime”

puts away his bowling pins and balls

sigh.

Hehe… Jugs sounds like a beverage :slight_smile:

uhm… I meant Juggs :wink:
what happens when English isn’t your native tongue :confused:

[quote]I seriously believe that any decision to use an API (or not to use) based on the name of the API is insane!
[/quote]
In order for people to make decisions about the API. they must know about it at the time of the decision. A cryptic acronym is not the best way to catch people’s attention, inform them about what the API does and help them remember the API for when they need the functionality. Jugs solves all three problems (it’s not in itself as informative as GL4Java, but it raises interest).

LOL, It may just be me, but the name “Jugs” would cause me some major eye-rolling, and just make me think “Oh look, a java game lib by some adolescent boys, hmm.” And then go down the Java3d route instead…

Like I said, it may just be me! :smiley:

Yes, I agree. However, this is what happened to me. I recommended it to a fellow dev. He went off to work on playing with Java + OpenGL. He could not remember what the name was, and grabbed… Gl4Java. You just lost a user. While it wasn’t that bad, because I keep in contact with him daily and was able to correct him.

I know this may seem like a silly “marketing” issue, but you must realize how important it is to get word out about work like this.

P.S. I personally like Juggle, as it keeps the JGL. As mentioned Juggs is a little on the Fart Joke scale of things.

[quote]As mentioned Juggs is a little on the Fart Joke scale of things.
[/quote]
is it? ::slight_smile:
English is not my native language either, heh. :stuck_out_tongue:

There already is a 3D-api called VR Juggler. Other names on that theme are Jungle or Jingle…