We need a nickname

[Mojomonkey]

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.

[Matzon]

could call it java game lib...

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?

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.

[darcone]

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?

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[Mojomonkey]

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

Ahhh, but you forgot the J... not so easy is it?

[Matzon]

Btw when is 0.6 coming out?

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...

[William]

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)

[Matzon]

I think the name can seriosuly hinder widespread adoption of the API and should be replaced ASAP.

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  

[Breakfast]

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

[Breakfast]

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.

[Matzon]

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

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[Captain-Goatse]

Hay doods Jugs is pretty good.

[erikd]

Yeah, Jugs is good  

[Mojomonkey]

"Of course, juggling is a bit of a crap passtime"

*puts away his bowling pins and balls*

sigh.

[darcone]

Hehe.. Jugs sounds like a beverage

[Matzon]

uhm.. I meant Juggs
what happens when English isn't your native tongue :/

[William]

I seriously believe that any decision to use an API (or not to use) based on the name of the API is insane!

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).

[mitu]

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!

[Mojomonkey]

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!

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.

[erikd]

As mentioned Juggs is a little on the Fart Joke scale of things.

is it?  
English is not my native language either, heh.  

[William]

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

[swpalmer]

For those for which english is not your native language, Jugs is a slang term for Breasts.. (oooooohh boobies..... drool...)


I would also like to point out that a JUG is Sun's term for Java users Group.

Juggle is cool because it has the right sounds (j,g,l) and it is a playfull activity- kind of like a game.... seems to fit.

[princec]

I'm for Juggle myself. We're going to put it to a vote.

Cas

[Breakfast]

Similar terms includ:

"Jugular"- might be quite good, although it does sound a bit vain  

"Jungle" - could enable you to rename it "drum 'n' bass" for marketing purposes later.

"Judgemental" - perhaps a bit long.

"Jagular" which is Winnie the Pooh's interpretation of "jaguar"

"Look, Pooh!" said Piglet suddenly. "There's  something
in one of the Pine Trees."
       "So  there  is!"  said  Pooh,  looking  up wonderingly.
"There's an Animal."
       Piglet took Pooh's arm, in case Pooh was frightened.
       "Is it One of the Fiercer Animals?"  he  said,  looking
the other way.
       Pooh nodded.
       "It's a Jagular," he said.
       "What  do  Jagulars do?" asked Piglet, hoping that they
wouldn't.
       "They hide in the branches of trees, and drop on you as
you go underneath," said Pooh. "Christopher Robin told me."
       "Perhaps we better hadn't go underneath, Pooh. In  case
he dropped and hurt himself."
       "They  don't hurt themselves," said Pooh. "They're such
very good droppers."

downside: Sounds a bit like the name given to a certain Apple OS upgrade.

Jeggle/jegyll - as in "Dr Jekyll" - a library with a dark side. Sounds a bit like "jiggle" which is towards jugs again. Another downside to jugs is the fact it is already in use by Java User Groups.

djinn-gale (The djinna were typically associated with sandstorms so you could sort of keep the name and call the library "Sandstorm", which is quite a cool name).

[psiegel]

I just thought I'd drop my two cents in and say I also like Juggle.  I work with a team of three other developers, though I am the "graphics guy" for the group.  Whenever I try to tell them about this lib I always stumble around the name.  So I'm quite glad to see this happening.

[cfmdobbie]

"Juggernaut", as in a strong destructive force, like LWJGL is intended to be?

"Luggage", as in something heavy or bulky either pulled or carried, implying OpenGL and OpenAL, or maybe talking about the mindset of the average game developer?

"Lugworm", as in a worm found in sea sand, used as bait, presumably baiting game developers into changing to Java?


I dunno, you could take all this too far...

[oNyx]

ah well... finally i managed it to spell lwjgl correctly and now u guys came up with that

"drum 'n' bass" would be sweet

or maybe (this time more serious)... "jago" (like the guy from killerinstinct) -> java - game only/orientated (or summin) :>

[psiegel]

Is this actually going to happen?  I've started calling it "Juggle" when talking to the rest of my team simply because I hate saying "LWJGL".

Paul

[princec]

It might well do. Sooner rather than later I think, because there's a lot of links and blurb needs to be updated.

Cas

[bedelf]

I like "LWJGL". There are enough horribly named API's out there, take care your not one of them.

[psiegel]

You like "LWJGL"?  Try having a conversation with someone about it, where you have to say it out loud several times in a sentence.  It's brutal.