A very recent future-that-wasn't

Initially Light Table, the Aurora, then Eve, then bust.

The first Big Idea -- Light Table...

That eventually turned into Aurora...

When it was still up and coming: In Search of Tomorrow -- the Future of Programming...

And then, a post-mortem: Against the Current (part 1)...

And the much shorter Part 2...

A remarkable modern iteration of the life of Charles Babbage, it seems to me. An inspired, brilliant visionary, who can't actually settle down and implement anything, because they are far too busy coming up with the next thing which is going to be even cooler.

You should probably read his article Toward a Better Programming, too.