From: lynbech@daimi.aau.dk (Christian Lynbech)
Subject: Re: TeXDraw - new developer sought
Keywords: tex, graphics, modula
Organization: DAIMI: Computer Science Department, Aarhus University, Denmark
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 07:23:42 GMT

annius@sif.research.ptt.nl (Annius Groenink) writes:

>lynbech@daimi.aau.dk (Christian Lynbech) writes:

>>kruel@wpcst1.phys-chemie.uni-wuerzburg.dbp.de (Thomas-Martin Kruel) writes:

>>>Dear netters,

>>>the author of TeXDraw, Jens Pirnay, has stopped the development of his 
>>>program since he has changed the system.

>>>If there are interested programmers, they should contact the author 
>>>himself:

>>>   Jens Pirnay,
>>>   Mail:   jens.pirnay@rphs1.physik.uni-regensburg.de,
>>>           pirnay@vax1.rz.uni-regensburg.dbp.de
>>>   Fido:   Jens Pirnay (2:246/124.5)
>>>   Maus:   Jens Pirnay @ R


>>How about just releasing the sources to the general public. There sure
>>would be some hackers out there ready to improve the program. Also,
>>most PD development happens on a need-to basis. 

>Not a good idea for a large GEM program.

>>If I use a program regularly and find it is missing some feature, I'm
>>always ready to pull out my trusty compiler and hack at it myself.
>>This is one reason why I try to stick to programs with available
>>sources.

>Someone should take the project over who has the motivation and time
>to make something nice out of it. If you think you can do that, write
>to Jens. There's one thing I would like to have in TeXdraw:

>  What I think is a useful feature is that you can give a certain
>  point in the plane a name, say, A. Then when you move that point,
>  all objects that use that point will be (partially) moved. This
>  is VERY convenient when you're designing graphs. (i.e. when you
>  move a node all arrows from/to it will move as well.) Once the image
>  has been converted to TeX this is a trivial matter, but it should
>  already be possible in TeXdraw.


>>Consider the net a large pool of highly competent programmers, and
>>release the stuff to us, the public.

>I don't REALLY believe this. The way Jens tried it by asking for
>someONE on the news was a good idea. I don't have the time, but
>I'd love to work on TeXdraw if I had the time (first thing: convert
>the sources to C).


Well, I see your point. Indeed the ideal thing would be if somebody
would take over the program, but I can't help being just a tiny bit
sceptical that someone would.

Taking myself as example, I had tried TeXdraw and liked it a lot. Also
there was a feature that I felt was missing concerning a \multiput
like input facility. In that case I would have loved to have the
sources at hand and give it a go. I would however not like to get the
sole responsibility for enhancing and maintaining the program.

I think that the most excellent GNU support is to be considered a
happy example that indeed PD development is possible, but in
retrospective, those packages is actually maintained by net.gurus who
has the actual responsibility to update the stuff. So I still think
that the sources should go public, at least unless some highly
motivated GEM/Modula-2 comes forward.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christian Lynbech

DAIMI						office: R0.32   phone: 5034
University of Aarhus,DK-Denmark                 email: lynbech@daimi.aau.dk
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Hit the philistines three times over the head with the Elisp reference manual.

                                        - petonic@hal.com (Michael A. Petonic)




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