renaming Wagn to "Cardicle"

[Ethan McCutchen]

Hi all,

For over five years now, we've been batting around ideas about renaming Wagn.  As we approach the 2.0 release, at which point we'll make a big push to bring Wagn to a wider audience, it feels like the right time to make the leap, and significant momentum is gathering behind the name "Cardicle".

Cardicle connects "cards" with two primary metaphors: particle and article.  The particle metaphor is great for conveying ideas around Wagn's structure: atomicity, granularity, fractals, recombination, etc.  And articles are useful for conversations around some of the higher level uses, like wikis and CMS.

I'm probably not the only one with some sentimental attachment to the name "Wagn", but as the software has evolved, it's become a more and more awkward fit.  The name originally came from "wiki + tagging", but that was based on a conception of plus cards where the usage was based on mutual tagging, whereas now we using think of those cards more like fields.  The more we seek to become international state-of-the-art software platform, the odder it feels to be named after clunky old technology and branded with imagery that suggests US manifest destiny!

Perhaps more importantly, the name Wagn doesn't do much to help introduce the software or the key concepts behind it.  I often find myself saying "In Wagn, everything is a card".  While most folks can get over the fact that wagons and cards don't have much to do with each other, it feels like a missed opportunity to embrace and reinforce an idea that we need to stick in folks' minds.  "In Cardicle, everything is a card".  OK, that my brain can hold; tell me more.

So, what do you think?  Nothing is, as of yet, etched in stone, nor have we contracted a mason.  The name is fairly new (it was just suggested by Art Brock last week), but I think it's a great one.  We're currently moving forward with the idea that rather than releasing Wagn 2.0 this Autumn, we'll release Cardicle 1.0 in its place.  Should it turn out that "cardicle" means "data breach" in Mandarin, or there is some other strong reason not to use Cardicle or to use another name instead, then there's no reason we can't change course.

But I hope you'll like the idea as much as I do.  Thoughts?

- ethan

--
Ethan McCutchen

One of the Wagneers, Wagn.org

Wagn. How pioneers roll.

s: ethan.mccutchen

t: @intogreater

[Ethan McCutchen]

Mark Dilley tried to send this comment but it got rejected for some reason:

Agree with renaming.  Wagn had its use, time to move on.

Agree with John and Tom, Cardicle feels like stuck in the same mud, maybe

even stepped into quicksand...

On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 2:12 PM, Tom Brooke <tom.b...@gmail.com> wrote:

I agree with what you say about Wagn and a new name would be great but like John I am not sure about Cardicle - I appreciate the Card connection - but it sounds smallish or like a personal file system instead of networked knowledge repository

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[Ethan McCutchen]

So it's unanimous: we all LOVE it!  ;)

You all bring up good points.  Let me have a go at winning you over.

First, consider that the first encounter of the brand will often be accompanied by a logo.  While we don't have one designed yet, there is fertile visual soil to work with there with the card and particle imagery.  Perhaps, for example, it's a card shape in an electron's orbit.  Or the word "cardicle" in the negative space of a card-shaped particle cloud.  Or a cosmic swirl made out of little cards...

In any case, an image will go a long way towards reinforcing the strength of this brand, which is a mix of the very prosaic (cards) and an expanse of structural creative opportunity (particles).  Simple and straightforward on the one hand and replete with power and possibility on the other.

I have lots of conversations with people about Wagn, and they come at it from very different places.  Some want cosmic vision, some want a todo list.  To me, this is a very pliant brand, and it helps us go approachable or grandiose as needed.

You're right, Tom, that it sounds small.  "icle" is a diminutive ending, after all.  We were even conceiving of it that "cardicle" is really the full name of a "card".  You could as easily say that you've created 10 cardicles as 10 cards.  In that sense the name is a bit of a synecdoche, in which we've named the whole after its part.

This actually fits our new architecture in a fun way.  You wouldn't say you'd created "a new cardicle" as you might now say you'd made "a new wagn".  But rails developers don't say they've made "a new rails" either.  You say you've made a new "rails app".  We were thinking you'd now create a new "cardicle deck".  (or just a new deck, since that's not as ambiguous as "app").

So let's look at the google test in order of Cardicle's best to worst scores:

• When they get google results, are there a small number of results. 
  

The key concern there is being able to own the results page; I'm confident we will easily own the top 10 slots in no time.  Slots 4 and 5 are ping results for cardicle.info, a domain that we registered without really wanting because it came in a package deal.  We have the .com, .org, and .net.  I'd say Cardicle gets an A+ here.

• Show the domain for 3 seconds and then can they type it correctly into google
  

I can test this empirically, but my guess is that this would go pretty well (A-?) even without an image, and that it would go extremely well with the suggestive power of an image that helps the viewer make the particle connection.

• say the domain once, and the listener can type it correctly into google
  

I'll have to test this one, too, but I would guess it's a B because of the variants you mention.

With both the second and third test, the key concern is, of course, not so much that folks type it correctly, but that Cardicle actually shows up as the top result.  The .orgs are available for all the variants you mention; if I purchase those, I suspect we'll pass the google test with flying colors.

I admit I hadn't thought of the popsicle connotation, but at least that suggests a theme song.

Let it sink in a bit guys (hopefully not in Mark's quicksandy sense).  I've been waiting for five years for a good name to come along, and we've rejected a thousand ideas along the way.  I really think this is a strong one!

-e

On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 3:14 PM, James Thompson <j...@lj.net> wrote:

I agree with others, I don't like cardicle, first thing that comes to mind is that its a variant of a Popsicle.

I'd rather see something like: ConnectedCards.

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[Ethan McCutchen]

To clarify the framing a bit, I think we're somewhere between brainstorming and "our new name is Cardicle".   Basically, my feeling is that now is the time to rebrand if we're going to do it, and that Cardicle is a serious improvement over Wagn.  So unless a better idea emerges, I'd say Cardicle 1.0 (rather than Wagn 2.0) is the default name for the next major release.

I hope that sounds less like a decree than a "gauntlet thrown" ;)

I suppose it's telling that nobody has yet shed a tear for the Wagn name.  I think I've spent so much time with the old bastard I'm starting to anthropomorphize it.  Poor old Wagn.  It's like an old pet whose time has come.  Now I'm caninomorphizing it...

On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 6:46 PM, Mark Dilley <markw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Jean - am very interested to hear story about "the wiki cultural practice of "don't critique without offering something better" - never heard that before! 

In defense of reactions to it, wasn't really set up as - hey what are your ideas - we have had a thousand of them and all these people (list them) think caricle is a good name. 

(I left it as caricle - cuz that it how I spelled it the first few times. )

Awesome if this is - hey our new name is caricle ( again with the spelling, dangit!) 

Interesting if a public group discussion is wanted too, not needed though :-)

Best, Mark
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On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 8:26 PM, jean russell <jeanmr...@gmail.com> wrote:

Personally, I am really excited.

Cardicle isn't perfect, but I can't seem to think of something better. It just outperforms all the other ideas I have heard or come up with.  I am all for kicking the tires, but I prefer the wiki cultural practice of "don't critique without offering something better."

I do tend to write it as carticle when writing by hand. Not sure why.

I really like that it isn't playing to a past pattern. We had that string of dropping the e off of er words from flickr... let's not do THAT. 

Will people think we are putting their information into the cubicle... and spawn some Office show? I don't know, but Ethan will probably make jokes about it.

See http://vinebox.co/u/wiaJ0cqlOwJ for your Office Vines.

Jean Russell
312.725.2171
@Thrivable

Thrivable, Inc.

Thrivable.net

triarchypress.net/thrivability.html

"Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present." -- Albert Camus

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[Arthur Brock]

A Wagn name change may feel sudden for those who may not have known there's been an inquiry about it for over five years.  The need to rebrand for the European project and its funding timelines meant we had reach some kind of decision. Over the past years scores of names have been suggested and considered.  

In the board meeting, we played out the pros and cons of the final few candidates.  "Cardicle" came out ahead of the others, and Ethan hadn't even known it was in consideration before the meeting since it was only proposed the night before.

I actually want to acknowledge Ethan for being able to move quickly toward a new and unfamiliar name, and then for advocating for it in a community of folks being asked to do the same.

The Cardicle name is not an irreversible decision if there's a major reason it sucks, or if there's a much stronger alternative proposed. I'm pretty sure all the board members are pretty flexible on it. However, 5 years is just too long for a re-naming process. Sadly, we probably missed the window of opportunity for many other great names in that time period.

I think the questions before us now are: 

1. Can we move forward with Cardicle?  
2. Does it tell a good enough story to improve our story and brand? 
3. Can it work in a European/Global market? 
4. Is there a major problem with it that should disqualify it? 
5. Is there a clear better alternative?

If the answer to the first few is "yes" and to the last two is "no," then I think we've got to move forward.  

This is the chance to change the game before any major investment of time, money or energy. Is there any feedback on those 5 questions that should change our course? (Especially #4 and #5)

That's how I'd suggest we frame the matter since we need to move forward with something.

-art

Arthur Brock
Emerging Leader Labs

http://www.EmergingLeaderLabs.org

Skype: artbrock

http://www.artbrock.com

On Fri, Apr 11, 2014 at 12:33 AM, Mark Dilley <markw...@gmail.com> wrote:

ConnectedCards - I like. I don't have to think. Maybe not a good choice for branding - or the google test.

Best, Mark
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On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 11:21 PM, Tom Brooke <tom.b...@gmail.com> wrote:

I am still running cardicle through my head and trying to think of something better or else trying to appreciate it more -  I was thinking something like just cards - cards.io is almost available as a domain 

But in support of the icle concept here is a brief blurp from the vert.x ( a Redhat asynchronous server) manual:

Verticle

The packages of code that Vert.x executes are called verticles (think of a particle, for Vert.x).

Verticles can be written in JavaScript, Ruby, Java, Groovy or Python (Scala and Clojure support is in the pipeline).

Many verticles can be executing concurrently in the same Vert.x instance.

An application might be composed of multiple verticles deployed on different nodes of your network communicating by exchanging messages over the Vert.x event bus.

For trivial applications verticles can be run directly from the command line, but more usually they are packaged up into modules.

 

On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 11:01 PM, jean russell <jeanmr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I attribute most of my favorite and recent cultural practices to wikis.  ;)

Sort of like wikivanning is really open space in a van.

But actually, I think it makes sense Mark.  Even if i badly phrased it. You might critique all you want in the talk page,  but the main wiki page should only include your improvements. Readers usually focus on the page and not the talk page behind it. Thus, if you want something better, jump in to improve it instead of saying what it isn't on the talk page.

We want your thoughts on it.  as Ethan said,  it isn't in stone. we can see some challenges to it.  I am sure you can too. Are any of those significant?

We are a community.  As president of the board,  I am interested in making such am important change only after asking our community how you feel about it. Can you get behind it? Do you have a better idea that we should consider? Do you see a dangerous flaw in it that we missed? Do you have some making criteria that we should use? (John's list was great!)

Gratitude,
Jean

[Ethan McCutchen]

re Cardistry: prior to Charley's "cardiac" suggestion, I was assuming we start calling Wagneers "Cardists".  I'd looked at Cardist-themed ideas for a long time (including cardistry), but most of the obvious domains aren't available.  I think Cardistry would be a serious contender if the .com, .net, and .org variants weren't all taken.  

For what it's worth, "cardiste.com" is up for grabs, but that's not nearly as pliant.  Cardist.org and .net are available, but sadly the .com is in use.

To be fair, though "cardist" is pretty solid by most of the other criteria we've listed (A+ on google test 1 and 2.  B+ on 3?) and I would think it would even alleviate Brandon's criticism of card-based branding by calling to mind magicians more than octogenarians, no?

So seriously, none of you are waking up the next day and thinking "cardicle, ok, that's actually kind of awesome"?  Am I being cardiculous?

-e

On Fri, Apr 11, 2014 at 12:20 PM, Brett Neumeier <bneu...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Apr 11, 2014 11:12 AM, "John Sechrest" <sech...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> (Sadly not on wagn-dev, so this will bounce for them)
>
> Doing some brainstorming on card....
>
> Cardicle
> cardify

> cardit [....]

My $0.02 ...

I have never been fond of the "wagn" name.

I like the idea that the new name would be related to "card" or "deck". I'm not a fan of cardicle -- it just sounds too precious, and like others here my immediate reaction is that it's a portmanteau of card and popsicle or icicle.

So, other ideas:

Cardistry -- could be a portmanteau of card with "artistry" or "tapestry", both of which I like.

Cardecule -- a portmanteau with "molecule", which fits the chemistry theme like cardicle (since cards are analogous to atoms, obviously). Hmm, as far as that goes Cardistry could be a portmanteau with "chemistry".

Hypercard -- ha, okay, I know, that's already taken. But it would fit!

... I wish I had more ideas, but the other things I've thought of are already elsewhere in this thread.

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[Lora Friedenthal]

By accident I typed Cardible, which actually sounds nicer to me.

I get the visual possibilities of particle/molecule idea. And REALLY look forward to having a new logo in the corner of my site.

The other metaphor I think of when trying to explain how the system is connected is wormholes/portals. Inclusions are portals that bring your information in from another place. That leads you down paths like Portule.

In the end, I think we'll get used to whatever you choose and basically anything is better than wagn. ;)

-Lora

[Ethan McCutchen]

Thanks, Lora!

Another question occurred to me after reading those thoughts.  We have really good ideas for translating the noun "Wagneer" into cardspace (I bet both cardist and cardiac will be used, though I don't know what the difference is yet).  But what about the verb "to wagneer"?

So far the best I've thought of is to carden (cardening =~ wiki gardening).

Other ideas?

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[Lora Friedenthal]

Is there a reason you need to verb it? Giving a title to people who use the system is... okay. I mean, I guess it sounds like you have a special skill that you can put on a resume or something. If you had a test to pass that got you a certification, that'd be better. But it just seems very twee to give it a verb. 

*shrug*

-Lora

[Ethan McCutchen]

had to look up "twee" ;)

I use that verb all the time (and the derivative noun "wagneerable") because in estimates and such I'm always having to distinguish between what can be achieved with the code base as is, what requires a mod, and what requires enhancements to the core.  Anything I can do without enhancement is "wagneerable"...

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