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Angelo G.M. Belloni
http://www.mumpster.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=64		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  bang [ Wed Dec 29, 2010 5:28 am ]
Post subject:  Angelo G.M. Belloni
I started using MUMPS in November 1979, when I was in charge of managing the information database relating to the Seveso accident. At that time we used DSM (Digital Standard MUMPS), which perfectly matched the Rick's profile in Generations of MUMPS, but for it already had the JOB command. Later on, I used other implementations such as MSM, ISM, closer to date Caché and lately (just a few months now) GT.M.

At the soonest I appreciated MUMPS effectiveness and flexibility, in particular when one has to promptly accommodate continuously emerging needs for recording and processing new types of information, without disrupting on going services (i.e., fully transparently).

I extended my experience with MUMPS by developing first other healthcare applications (namely clinical labs), then financial applications ... then - when detecting that MUMPS gave me also what other tools did not do so easily and effectively - even automation systems and artificial intelligence.

I also appreciated the basic simplicity of MUMPS: when back in Seveso, I successfully grew up a score of young undergraduates, who were originally given the task of inputting data, into valuable programmers: this in the space of a few months, starting from scratch as to their background IT&T knowledge.

As a MUMPS fan, however, I never understood the difficulties for having it widely accepted as a valuable IT&T tool. When looking back, I think that at least two big mistakes have been made, namely in MUG/MTA:
1) changing the name from MUMPS to M or M[UMPS]: this gave the impression that it was just a naive technology, not stable, not worthwhile for long term investments
2) insisting on MUMPS as a medical tool, instead of an IT&T tool of general use (VA Filesystem was, not MUMPS !): this gave the impression that using MUMPS for applications other than healthcare was not natural, i.e., a forced way of mapping other business into something extraneous to them, hence a sure way for incurring in an open ended series of troubles.

The sudden dissolution of MUG/MTA, at a time when also Micronetics disappeared into InterSystems thus giving the impression that MUMPS too as it was thus far known would have disappeared into a unique proprietary system open to unpredictable evolution, added a lot to the disruption of MUMPS reputation.

I was very much relieved in lately discovering GT.M as an open source for open source (i.e., Linux) developments.

But discovering that this forum has been opened, and a new MUMPS community is gathering around it ... this was the Xmas present I have appreciated at most this year !!

So here I am, at the verge of a season of mine of falling leaves (hairs have gone long ago ...).

This encourages me in retrieving all of my software and rewriting it in a more rational style (i.e, by getting rid of the limitations we had in the old times and fully exploiting the advantages of the latest implementations of the standard), so as to leave a sound basis to those who will come after me.
Author:  icekat [ Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Angelo G.M. Belloni
Welcome to Mumpster! We're all pretty excited about this growing online community.
Author:  toad [ Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Angelo G.M. Belloni
Welcome to Mumpster, Mr. Belloni. I'm delighted to meet you.

I completely agree that the name change showed an unwarranted lack of confidence and created unnecessary confusion. During the mid to late 1990s the MUMPS community was too insecure and anxious to be taken seriously - which is what comes of chasing other people's ideas of who we should be rather than building upon our own strengths and track record - and that insecurity showed up in all kinds of ways, including the name change.
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