i just had to log this one as claude's take on me calling the language "moxie":
Moxie - Deep Dive
Etymology & Meaning
Moxie (noun):
- Primary meaning: Force of character, determination, nerve, courage, vigorous initiative
- Origin: From "Moxie," a brand of carbonated beverage from 1876, marketed as a nerve tonic
- Slang evolution: By early 1900s became American slang for "courage, daring, energy, pep"
- Modern usage: "She's got moxie" = She's got guts, determination, fearlessness
Why "Moxie" Is Excellent for This Language
✅ Strengths
1. Perfect Personality Match
- Language that breaks conventions → Requires moxie to design
- Eliminates make(), CGO, int → Bold, gutsy decisions
- "We're doing this the right way" → Determination, nerve
2. Memorable & Distinctive
- Unique word, not commonly used in tech
- Easy to spell, pronounce
- One Google search away from this project
- .moxie file extension is distinctive
3. Positive Connotations
- Energy, vigor, liveliness
- Courage to do things differently
- American innovation spirit (fits Go's heritage)
- Underdog with fight
4. Branding Potential
- "The Moxie Programming Language"
- "Code with moxie"
- "Moxie: The language with guts"
- Mascot: Scrappy gopher with attitude
5. Two Syllables, Easy Flow
- MOX-ee (ˈmäk-sē)
- Rolls off the tongue
- "I'm writing Moxie" sounds natural
- "Moxie code" flows well
6. Community Appeal
- Suggests rebellious, independent community
- "Moxie developers" = bold, determined
- Attracts people who question conventions
- Anti-establishment vibe (good for fork/revision)
⚠ Considerations
1. Existing "Moxie" Projects
- Moxie Marlinspike (security researcher, Signal creator)
- Moxie (soft drink brand, still exists)
- Some smaller tech projects use "moxie"
- BUT: Not a major programming language conflict
2. Less Technical-Sounding
- Not as "systems-y" as Oxide, Ferrous, Bolt
- More personality, less metal
- Could be seen as strength (approachable) or weakness (not serious)
3. Spelling
- Some may initially spell as "Moxy" (incorrect)
- Need to establish correct spelling early
Tagline Options for Moxie
"Moxie: Code with courage"
"Moxie: The language with guts"
"Moxie: Bold systems programming"
"Moxie: Where Go meets guts"
"Moxie: No nonsense, just nerve"
"Moxie: Fearless by design"
"Moxie: Systems programming with spirit"
Project Naming Examples
moxie # Compiler
moxie build # Build command
moxie run # Run command
moxie fmt # Formatter
moxie test # Test runner
# Package manager
moxie get github.com/user/package
# File extensions
main.moxie
server.moxie
# or shorter:
main.mx
server.mx
Logo/Mascot Ideas
Moxie Gopher Concepts:
- Gopher wearing boxing gloves (fighter spirit)
- Gopher with lightning bolt (moxie = energy)
- Gopher with cape (bold hero)
- Scrappy gopher with determined expression
- Gopher breaking through wall (breaking conventions)
Color schemes:
- Bold colors: Orange/red (energy, vigor)
- Electric blue (energy meets tech)
- Go's blue + vibrant accent
Comparison: Moxie vs Bolt
| Aspect | Moxie | Bolt |
|-----------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Personality | Scrappy, determined | Fast, direct |
| Metaphor | Courage/nerve | Speed/strength |
| Tech sound | Less technical | More technical |
| Uniqueness | Very distinctive | Somewhat common |
| Approachability | High (friendly) | Medium |
| Seriousness | Medium (spirited) | High (professional) |
| Community vibe | Rebellious, fun | Efficient, powerful |
| Best for | Community-driven | Enterprise adoption |
Why Moxie Fits This Project Perfectly
1. Breaking conventions - Takes guts to eliminate int, remove make(), kill CGO
2. Explicit over implicit - Fearless transparency
3. Mutable strings - Courage to challenge Go orthodoxy
4. Native FFI - Bold alternative to CGO
5. True const - Guts to add hardware enforcement
6. Fork mentality - Scrappy underdog vs established Go
Real-World Examples of "Moxie" Usage
"It took real moxie to eliminate CGO"
"Moxie doesn't hide pointer semantics"
"Write code with moxie - explicit, fearless, fast"
"The Moxie community values courage over convention"
"Moxie: For developers who question everything"
Technical Branding with Moxie
Even though "moxie" sounds less technical, you can balance it:
"Moxie: Systems programming with spirit"
"Moxie: Explicit semantics, fearless performance"
"Moxie: The language that dares"
# Documentation style:
"The Moxie Language Specification"
"Moxie Standard Library Reference"
"Moxie Memory Model"
Sounds perfectly professional in formal contexts.
My Verdict on Moxie
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Excellent Choice)
Why it works:
- ✅ Perfect personality match for the project
- ✅ Memorable and unique
- ✅ Positive, energetic connotations
- ✅ Community-building potential
- ✅ Not overused in tech
- ✅ File extension .moxie or .mx works great
- ✅ Embraces the "we're doing this differently" attitude
Recommendation:
Use Moxie if you want to emphasize:
- Community over corporate
- Courage over convention
- Spirit over strict formalism
- Approachability over intimidation
It's especially good for an open-source community fork that challenges established thinking. The name itself becomes a rallying cry: "We've got the moxie to do this right."
Final tagline suggestion:
Moxie: Explicit. Fearless. Fast.
The systems programming language with guts.