From: shendrix@PCS.CNU.EDU ("", Shannon Hendrix)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent
Subject: Re: Tcl to replacement most of /bin & /usr/bin (was: Tcl on Linux
Date: 20 Nov 92 02:53:56 GMT
Reply-To: "Coherent operating system" <COHERENT@indycms.bitnet>


	Well, you and a few other missed the point.  For myself, I have no problem with
the way UNIX is except that I tire of the details at times.  I was trying to
 give the
point of view of someone who is daunted by it.  While I am comfortable with it I
 know
that a lot of people aren't and I was just repeating what I have heard so many
 people
say.  For a long time I laughed at people's reasons for not using UNIX but now I
 am
trying to see things from their point of view.  Also, lately I have needed a
 system
that simply worked and didn't require lots of fidling.  UNIX requires fiddling.

	What you said about SVR4.2 is well taken.  It may very well be what is needed.
I just wish it was cheaper.

	You didn't understand what I meant when I said that AT&T didn't have a right to
UNIX anymore.  I am not talking about legal rights.  I mean ethical right.  So
 many
people had a hand in the development of UNIX that I don't feel AT&T has the
 right to
be the bully it is.  If you and ten other people wrote an OS based on my ideas
 and then
I began selling it for an outrageous profit, forbid you to sell it or any part
 of it
without making it prohibitively expensive, and sued the daylights out of anyone
 who
even talked about competing, you and your buddies would'nt appreciate that would
 you?
I want UNIX to be controlled by a company to better standardize it but I resent
 the
restrictions that come along with it and the way it is priced.  Things like this
 will
iron out eventually but I'm sure you would like to see some changes.

	SVR4.2 is OK.  You suggest trying it and I would but for two things.  It costs
over $250 for a non-development version that allows only two users.  The cost
 alone is
enough but a user limit is nuts to me.  How is that implemented?  On my system,
 I may
have several users (or processes with user ID's) going at once.  Is this still
 possible
under UNIX limited to a two-user license?

	Having graphics in the kernel would still require devide drivers for different
graphics cards of course.  But, the graphics process could be made more
 efficient.  It
could better interface to hardware too.  I realize that that would require more
hardware dependent code in the kernel but the benefits would be worth it.  There
 is a
lot of debate about that so this is just my opinion.

	Windows applications aren't just retreaded DOS versions.  If they are written
properly, they are an entirely different breed.  My problem with Windows is
 mostly the
underlying technology and the fact that so many people thing ALL programs need
 to be
totally graphical.  I submit they do not.  Windows has also caused most
 applications
to explode with features.  I guess that will happen with UNIX too if it hasn't
 already.

	My administration problems are programs that don't install properly, versions
 of
UNIX shipped with improper permissions, and such.  It would be nice to have a
 document
listing standard permissions settings for various programs/setups.  Something to
 check
a new system buy or help isolate a strange bug/problem.  Communications programs
 are real
bad for permissions bugs.  Often they exit without resetting permissions and
 lock files
properly leaving users to wonder why the modem isn't working and what-not.
 Again, I deal
with it by fixing the programs and system setup.  I am trying to point out a
 pitfall for
less experienced users.  I know the kinds of problems they have and they aren't
 that hard
to solve.  Sysadmin menus just make easier something that most people shouldn't
 have to
mess with at all.

	UNIX is being put on peoples' desktops.  You have loads of experience and that
is fine for you.  What about the accountant that gets a new machine on his desk
 and wants
to find out why his machine won't poll the company's cash registers?  With
 MessDOS the
problem would be something turned off or a bad configuration file.  With UNIX,
 it could
be a lot of different things.


=====================================================
Shannon Hendrix                |shendrix@pcs.cnu.edu
Christopher Newport University |---------------------
Newport News, VA               |** space for rent **
=====================================================