[Info-vax] Installing and using GNV - some feedback and questions

[BillPedersen]

On Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 12:05:16 PM UTC-4, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2016-10-23, BillPedersen <pedersen at ccsscorp.com> wrote:
> >
> > Simon:
> >
> > Thank you for your feedback.
> >
> > Given that the active effort on GNV is from three or four people on
> > a part time basis the progress made over the last few years to get it
> > to the point where it will build many projects with only the "defined"
> > changes is really remarkable.  When I say defined changes, these are
> > things like providing the workaround code to handle poll and select
> > for all device type and some terminal handling to make it more
> > Linux-like.  With just these changes I have ported a TN3270 emulator
> > for instance.
> >
> 
> Hello Bill,
> 
> There was no criticism or even implied criticism in my feedback.
> 
> Basically, when I try out something new like this, especially when
> as much work has gone into it as this clearly has, I like to provide
> feedback alongside the questions I might have.
> 
> My goal is to help the next person to try using it and to help
> provide feedback to the developers about things which might not be
> obvious to them as, by definition, they are not using it for the
> first time.
> 
> Sometimes it's the little things which can help provide a easier
> getting started path to someone using a program for the first time
> and help give that person a more positive initial impression of a
> program.
> 

Simon, I fully agree.  It is the LITTLE things that are important.  And that is why I continually act as the evangelist for this program.  We REALLY do need more people involved with it.

> >
> > OK, so you do not like the Linux "-switch" option methods.  Well, I
> > was introduced to a solution to that at Boot Camp this year.  Tom Wade
> > from Ireland introduced me to some code he device to convert Linux
> > applications to accepting DCL style "/options".  You can find out more
> > about it here: http://www.tomwade.eu/software/vmsarg.html.
> >
> 
> I don't know where you get that idea from; I like them just fine.
> 
> $ set response/mode=good_natured
> 
> Are you confusing me with Phillip by any chance ? :-)
> 
> Simon.

No, not confusing you specifically with Phillip.  More of the plural use the word you and the specific.  I know there are many who rail at the Unix/Linux command interface and lack of any consistency, as well as confusion (such as caused by case sensitivity or having the same switch do different actions in different programs).  I found the work by Tom to be interesting and with a little bit of a tweak it should be able to maintain the Unix/Linux syntax while executed by Bash and then the VMS style when executed by DCL.

Again, thanks for your feedback and comments.

Please consider joining our cause.

Best,
Bill.

> 
> -- 
> Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
> Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world