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: 19 Nov 92 19:34:20 GMT
Reply-To: "Coherent operating system" <COHERENT@indycms.bitnet>

>
> Er, do you want a *nix clone or DOS with MS-Windows and desqView/X?
>
> What you have wanted taken out and the additions made is completely
> against everything that POSIX stands for.
i
	I don't want *anything* taken out!  The additions I wanted are
*NOT* against what Posix stands for!  Adding GUI functions to the kernel
(something already done at Carnegie Mellon and other places) would make
X loads faster.  Right now its *just* like Windows on DOS.
>
> If you want single user multi-tasking in 32-bit mode without having
> to worry about file permissions and stuff, get OS/2.
	I don't worry about file permissions.  I worry about haveing to
constantly keep track of them.  You shouldn't have too!  Plus, new users
never get them right and that is dangerous to them and the system.  UNIX
can run multiple file systems to why not provide a simpler one for those
who need it?  For myself, I like V7 and extended FS but a lot of people
could care less and hate the added work.  I want UNIX to be popular
amoung lots of different users and I'm trying to think of things that
would help that.  I ask people what they hate about it and the file
system is a biggie.  They understand the power it gives them but they
don't want to have to do it themselves.  As someone else suggested, the
solution may be automatic or easy sysadmin utilities.  Users are getting
more sophisticated so it'll be easier to please them in the future.

> As for licensing and stuff, there is a place for both GNU and shrink-wrap.
> Some people just want something for home they can screw around with.
> Some want something with support for their business.

	Someone already told me that GNU can be distributed without source
under most conditions.  I was unaware of that and thought you always had
to send it.  Most of the time it just needs to be made available.>

> The reason GNU must be distributed with source is that so whoever
> gets it can compile it and use it on their machine.  The only
> GNU stuff that comes without source is MS-DOS stuff since MS-DOS doesn't
> come with a compiler.  All POSIX opsys's do.
>
> Also, for security, you are ensured that no one has put in any nasty
> trap doors so they can grab root.

	Hah!  Even a relatively small program can hide trap doors and
nasty stuff from the best of programmers.  As much stuff as I pull off
the net I can't usually check for that anyway.

>
> Further, if you are distributing source instead of binary, you don't
> have to worry about patents and such.  Just copyleft everything.  You don't
> have to recompile for 8,000 machines.  Just hand out the source, and
> people can port it themselves.
>
> Binary distribution is used in only 2 cases 1) DOS (due to lack of a
 compiler),
> and 2) to protect trade secrets.  If the software is free, there is no
> reason to distribute a binary.
	I agree but sometimes its fun to write something neat and send
it out binary only.  It can ruin the fun to have the source.  A lot of
demo writers compete with one another and sending out the source would
kind of kill the fun.  As long as they eventually share their information,
it won't do any harm.  With 386's running UNIX beginning to share binaries,
that is possible in the UNIX world now.  I guess commercial software
vendors and shareware authors will use that against us though...


> -Louis
> --
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>  Louis J. Giliberto, Jr.   ! magus@drktowr.chi.il.us
>    -sysadmin drktowr       ! lgilibe@orion.it.luc.edu
>   Chicago, IL  USA         !
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>



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