[Info-vax] Use of logical names other than I/O redirection

[Bob Gezelter]

On Monday, September 12, 2022 at 2:18:11 PM UTC-4, alanfe... at gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 8:28:10 PM UTC-4, Arne Vajhøj wrote: 
> > On 9/10/2022 7:35 PM, alanfe... at gmail.com wrote: 
> > > I recall Hoff once lamenting about logical names. He said they are 
> > > mostly good for I/O redirection. And, IIRC, not liking using them to 
> > > store application data. 
> > > 
> > > I was wondering how people here (esp. Hoff!) feel about their use in 
> > > batch queues and mail. 
> > My opinion: 
> > 
> > files & directories => great 
> > configuration => ok but a bit of a hack - a config file or command line 
> > switch is usually better 
> > process communication => bad - use something else 
> > 
> > If for batch queue you mean a logical name pointing to a batch queue, 
> > then I think it is fine - it is similar to files and directories. 
> > 
> > If for mail you mean logicals used by EVE to auto format mail, 
> > then it is a hack, but a hack that I have been using myself. If 
> > something else please elaborate. 
> > 
> > Arne
> You can use logical names for recipients! I don't know if this is a true story, but someone did a 
> $ DEFINE MORON <user-address> 
> And when the person received it, it should that it was sent to MORON! 
> 
> I suppose that's harmless enough for personal use. I suppose one could make "public" logical names for positions like systems administrator, or HR Head, who might change from time to time.
Alan,

For role-based addressing, a practice I recommended in multiple editions of the "Computer Security Handbook", SET /FORWARD is a better choice than logical names.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com