From: kehlet@kehlet.adsp.sub.org (Jesper Kehlet)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.datacomm
Subject: Re: Amiga Comms (was RE: Amiga Kiosks?)
Date: 26 Aug 92 16:56:20 GMT
Organization: Compos Mentis Software Systems
X-NewsSoftware: GRn 1.16e (7/4/92) by Mike Schwartz & Michael B. Smith

In article <rwm.714583210@atronx.OCUnix.On.Ca> rwm@atronx.OCUnix.On.Ca (Russell McOrmond) writes:
> jgrimm@TorreyPinesCA.ncr.com (Jeffrey Grimmett 9999) writes:
> >>XPR *WILL* be available in the future, but why use them if the built-in are
> >>faster and even more reliable?
> 
> >Good.  Although there are legit gripes about XPR, it helps to have that
> >ability in case someone wants to use something you didn't want to implement.
> 
> >*plus* seen the same thing in Term.  I have the feeling this is an XPRZModem
> >bug instead (tons o' errors, too)
> 
>   I hope you realize the connection between these two problems.  The more
> people that implemente their 'internal' Zmodem, and push it as a 'feature',
> then the less likely that a fully implemented XPR based Zmodem will be
> released.  True or not (I personally think not), people have this 'image'
> that an internal protocol is going to somehow be better than a properly
> written XPR version of the same protocol.  The fact that only the
> 'freeware' style people are working on XPR based protocols (IE: The people
> who don't get paid or supported for their development) will always make
> this a problem.

So, let's talk about Zmodem here, since it the most popular protocol available.

When you implement Zmodem in your terminal program, it is very much like
implementation of the very same, but in a library.

The difference is really not that great.  But when you call library
functions, you lose to major overhead on those and that's bad!

No matter, how you do it, built-in protocols will, if written properly,
always be more efficient than the XPR ones.

And now the financial aspect:

When I do a fast, small and efficient Zmodem implement, I still have to pay
my bills.  When I announce it as a being a good Zmodem implement and it IS,
then people will, if not pay more, then at least pay for it!

I am doing a pretty good living, earning enough to "drive a pretty nice car
and own a pretty nice house", but nobody lived on love and water alone --
and survived it!  And I still have to pay off programmers -- I'm not doing
it all by myself!


>   If everyone wants better protocols, encouraging authors to support XPR
> (On both sides of the interface by writing XPR's themselves as well), we'll
> all be better off.

Except for those of us considering overhead and flexibility.


> (P.S.  Jack, let's not start our AMIGA_COMMS flamewar again - I'm just 
> presenting this side, and I think most know you disagree ;-)

Hey, I'll start it for him...  8-d:-)


>   Opinions expressed in this message are my Own. I represent nobody else.
>   Russell McOrmond  rwm@Atronx.OCUnix.On.Ca Net Support:(613) 230-2282(V.32Bis)
>   FidoNet 1:163/109 Welmat Help 1:1/139  Current WELMAT 'keeper of sources'.

-- 
     Jesper Kehlet, Compos Mentis Software Systems -- A Kind Of Magic

        (uunet|pyramid|rutgers)!cbmvax!cbmehq!cbmden!kehlet!kehlet
             cbmehq!cbmden!kehlet!kehlet@cbmvax.commodore.com

      As long as I speak for myself, my employees can do that, too...