I think Andy and I have reached a final decision to rename Fan to Fantom. The recent release of "Go" got me thinking about the naming issue again.

I understand that some people love Fan and that others really want a name change. But it is impossible to please everybody with a name. The debate could potentially go on forever, but in the end you have to pick something and go with it. This is a name that seems to work that both Andy and I can live with. Hopefully everybody else can too :-)

I feel a name change is important because the term "Fan" sucks for search queries. Google seems to be doing OK, but when doing a search on a given web page or on Twitter the term "Fan" is mostly noise.

One of my requirements for a name was something that would continue to let us use "fan" for package namespaces, as the file extension, and tool names (fan, fant, fansh). Fantom works in this context. And while the term is used for other things, I think searches will be much more focused (certainly an order of magnitude better than Fan).

After we have done an preliminary trademark search, I will begin this process. Most everything will stay the same except for the documentation. We will continue to host this site as fandev.org, but begin to use fantom-lang.org as our primary address (we might eventually use fantom.org). Then we'll definitely want lots of link love with the new name to get the word out.

Congrats, I like the change. "Fan" still sucks for search even in Google, "fandev" shows up OK, but search with fan and something else not so much (ex: "fan layout")

Anyway Fantom should work way better for search and it can still be "nicknamed" fan, so it's good.

Hopefully you already got fantom.org and fantom-lang.org because you know some automated dns registration evil robot is gonna pick that up momentarily :)

Not really excited but not too shabby either.

+1 fantom is a great name IMO.

Cue blog posts with punny names in 3, 2..

• "Fantom sightings"
• "Fantom aches"

etc.

It might be funny to adopt one of the Pac-Man ghosts (Pinky, Blinky, Inky and Clyde) as a mascot. :)

Don't forget Fantom of the Opera... or Fantom leg.

+1 to Pinky (mostly because it reminds me of Animaniacs)

Gawd, what are you people, twelve? :-)

-1 for fantom, frankly, it seems so comic-book fanboy, and doesn't have any language relevance I can see. But what the hell.

I'm glad you've decided to change the name. I really think the language will benefit from the change!

Fantom is a great name and has a great sound (saying that it's immature is pretty immature in itself, no offense).

Too bad though that I missed the naming debate (just learned about the language yesterday). I had ideas popping up in my head all night, the last one was on the shower gel bottle this morning... LUX (as in the SI unit of illuminance)

Although it doesn't have FAN in it, I liked that one... and it came with a free slogan "lux - the choice of bright people" =D

Anyway, Fantom is great! Definitely a new friend of mine!

+1 Congratulation for the new name! Long Live Fantom

I will have to admit, my mind is also flooded with comic book associations when I hear the name Fantom - and I don't really see how "fantom" Googles much better than "fan". However I am sure I can get used to the change. Now I will rename my Fantom DI framework to Batman. And a rewrite of the gang of four patterns book to suit Fan will surely be known as the fantastic four. lol

I like it.

@casperbang +1 for Fantastic Four =D

Although I don't get the comic book associations some of you do (probably because I haven't read that much comics), I actually think it would be a cool theme - comic book heroes (immature or not)! =)

Excellent.

The point is that "Fan" occurs in combination with every programming language, because people are "fans" of all programming languages. However, "Fantom" occurs very rarely in combination with a programming language, therefore it will lead to much better search results when people are searching for information related to "Fantom" the programming language.

This rocks. Having avoided comic books, I don't have the same baggage as the twelve year olds around here. I'm with JohnDG, this may not bring critical mass to Fantom, but will at least enable it - "Fan", in spite of being a fine place to live if you like humidity, guns, and booze, was as a name enough of an impediment that this really needed to happen.

Good news, everyone!

Awesome!

Great news, even if not my favourite choice.

Any chance we might announce this on Thursday at the Devoxx BOF session?

I finally got a chance to speak with my IP attorney this afternoon. There appears to be two trademarks which could cause us problems. So for right now the rename to Fantom is on hold. I am considering applying for an intent-to-use to see how the USPTO decides for granting us the mark. But that will be a process of several months.

It looks like all systems are go for the rename to Fantom.

Upon deeper investigation, there doesn't appear to be any conflicts with existing trademarks.

I have acquired fantom.org and mapped it to this site (should be propagating thru DNS now).

Our goal is to have a new build and formal roll-out tomorrow. But if we can't make it happen tomorrow, then look for a roll-out early next week.

Great just in time for the Devoxx BOF. We will have our presentation and demo with Fantom all over! Just need the new logo ;)

Fantastic ;-)

Just out of curiosity, what constitutes a "conflict" when it comes to trademarks?

Cool! I'll blog when the official launch is ready (hopefully tomorrow). DNS worked here.

I'm pretty sure it conflict ensues when either name, trademarked logo or domain are same or disturbingly similar.

For example there was a lawsuit between Apple Music and Apple Computers in which they agreed to stay out of each others domain but when Apple Computers became Apple Inc. there was a sue since Apple now wanted to sell music in their iTunes.