Subject: Linux-Misc Digest #216
From: Digestifier <Linux-Misc-Request@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>
To: Linux-Misc@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: Linux-Misc@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU
Date:     Sat, 4 Jun 94 17:13:08 EDT

Linux-Misc Digest #216, Volume #2                 Sat, 4 Jun 94 17:13:08 EDT

Contents:
  Re: Frustrated with new kernel (Jim Robinson)
  [Q]: VL MULTI I/O CARD MIO-5330 (Mr. M. W. Koekemoer)
  Xephem 2.5 BINARIES (Bob Kupiec)
  Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again) (Ramana Juvvadi)
  Re: SLIP or PPP??? (jonboy)
  Re: Cheap printer for Linux (jonboy)
  Linux and COBOL (davidh@wimsey.com)
  Re: Modem reliability under linux (chris formulak)
  Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again) (Mike Harvey)
  Re: What CD-ROM drive is this??? (Matthias Brunke)
  Re: Modem reliability under linux (Thomas G. McWilliams)
  Not on PS/2s you don't! (Re: Linux game development) (Brendan Jones)
  Re: SLIP or PPP??? (Rene COUGNENC)
  Re: Not on PS/2s you don't! (Re: Linux game development) (Stephen Early)
  Re: A System I am ordering.... (dan@oea.hacktic.nl)
  Re: Cheap printer for Linux (Jonathan A Buzzard)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: jimr@shorty.cs.wisc.edu (Jim Robinson)
Subject: Re: Frustrated with new kernel
Date: 4 Jun 1994 18:12:10 GMT

In article <2spioh$7ct@glitnir.ifi.uio.no> kjetilho@ifi.uio.no (Kjetil Torgrim Homme) writes:
>The problem then was that you needed to enable the NET code for a
>clean compile. Most of the kernel developers are on the network, so
>this combination of configuration options was missed. If you think
>about it, there are several million ways to configure your kernel, and
>it is impossible to make sure they all work. In any case, patchlevel
>14 was available 1-2 days later.

When I looked at my source, DDIOCSDBG was only defined once, and that
was in in the same file that used it.  At 1.1.13 it was not defined at
all, so how could enabling NET code helped?  Was the def moved since
1.1.13?


------------------------------

From: tinus@grumpy.cs.unam.NA (Mr. M. W. Koekemoer)
Subject: [Q]: VL MULTI I/O CARD MIO-5330
Date: 3 Jun 1994 15:04:33 -0500

Hello,

I'm running Linux 0.99.14 with the idekernel.  I've got an
MIO-5330 VL-Bus Controller Card installed on my system that needs
drivers.  If you have them or know where I can find them, please
mail me.

Thank-you.

Please email to tinus@strider.cybersoft.com.na or
tinus@grumpy.cs.unam.na as I send this via the gateway, we haven't
got news yet.


------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: kupiec@tigger.jvnc.net (Bob Kupiec)
Subject: Xephem 2.5 BINARIES
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 20:03:56 GMT

I'm looking for a binary copy of Xephem 2.5.  I really need 2.5 and
not 2.4.  If someone could point me to a copy for ftp, I would be most
appreciative.  Or, please ftp a copy to ftp.jvnc.net in /priv/kupiec/incoming.

-- 
Bob Kupiec               Email: kupiec@jvnc.net        JvNC (GES, Inc.)
Network Operations       Ham: N3MML                   3 Independence Way
Phone: 609-897-7319      Fax: 609-897-7310            Princeton, NJ 08540

------------------------------

From: juvvadi@ulysses.att.com (Ramana Juvvadi)
Subject: Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again)
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 18:47:37 GMT

In article <1994Jun02.125159.15511@taylor.infi.net> mark@taylor.infi.net (Mark A. Davis) writes:

>>it's WordPerfect and it'll cost you $100. (or whatever the going cost is)"
>>The quick reply will be "Well for that I can just run it on DOS/Windows."

>Boy would it be.  Sometimes it scares me.  WP 6.0 for Unix is probably the
>largest, most sophisticated program I have ever seen.  Makes me think of
>the days of pre 4.2.....   But one could mimic the more popular aspects
>of WP without having to create all those zillions of features (how many 
>people REALLY use all those features anyway).

Actually a word processor (any software for that matter) with fewer features 
is far more usable than a word  processor with far more useless features.
A lot of features only serve to drown out the more useful ones. The real 
challenge is to be highly selective and keep only the useful ones. A software
which requires a 50 page manual is far more useful than a software with
1000 page manual which only increases the functionality 5%. 

On a related note where can I get QuickScript? I have been using TeX
for the past five years but I find writing macros in it very tiring. 
I myself have been toying with
the idea of developing a front end to postscript. Now that somebody has
a working version I would like to take a look at it.

Ramana
 

>-- 
>  /--------------------------------------------------------------------------\
>  | Mark A. Davis    | Lake Taylor Hospital | Norfolk, VA (804)-461-5001x431 |
>  | Sys.Administrator|  Computer Services   | mark@taylor.infi.net           |
>  \--------------------------------------------------------------------------/



------------------------------

Subject: Re: SLIP or PPP???
From: jmmadiso@iupui.edu (jonboy)
Date: 3 Jun 94 14:08:32 -0500

In article <1994Jun3.004033.9676@unlv.edu>,
Frank Lofaro <ftlofaro@unlv.edu> wrote:
>In article <2sl0lk$1f9@elna.ethz.ch> meyer@iqe.ethz.ch writes:
>>i have to decide me between a PPP or a SLIP connection
>>to my university. what's the better choice (is PPP possible..
>>drivers etc.?)
>>
>>thanks                vital
>
>Since you've got the choice, use SLIP.
>You don't need PPP overhead, especially just to hook one Linux box to 
>the net.
i don't understand. what is the overhead...i've seen performance stats
for SLIP, and they're about the same as PPP.

>Plus the SLIP code is more tested.
maybe...PPP's been out for ages now. just not in the kernel.
-- 
jonM<>< jmadison@klingon.iupucs.iupui.edu; jonboy@neuromancer.ucr.edu
"I'm trapped in the zoo called America/locked in a cage called tha 'hood"
                -O.G.G. --" Before Redemption"

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Cheap printer for Linux
From: jmmadiso@iupui.edu (jonboy)
Date: 3 Jun 94 14:09:39 -0500

In article <Jun.3.12.32.58.1994.21020@rutcor.rutgers.edu>,
Tamas Badics <badics@rutcor.rutgers.edu> wrote:
>Hi Everybody,
>
>I was thinking about getting a printer like Canon BJ-200, or similar.
>What is your oppinion? 
go for it. it works just fine.

>Thanks,
>       Tamas


-- 
jonM<>< jmadison@klingon.iupucs.iupui.edu; jonboy@neuromancer.ucr.edu
"I'm trapped in the zoo called America/locked in a cage called tha 'hood"
                -O.G.G. --" Before Redemption"

------------------------------

From: davidh@wimsey.com
Crossposted-To: bc.unix
Subject: Linux and COBOL
Date: Sat, 04 Jun 94 12:43:31 PDT




Any place to look, or general hints regarding COBOL and Linux?
Preferably MicroFocus COBOL under Linux?


thanks, email preferred...

davidh@wimsey.com

------------------------------

From: formy@thoth.ucr.edu (chris formulak)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
Subject: Re: Modem reliability under linux
Date: 4 Jun 1994 19:51:14 GMT

Hmm, that's interesting.  I seem to have the exact opposite problem.
Under dos I get shitty modem connections and transfers, all filled
with CRC error's and the like.  But under Linux I rarely have those 
problems.

Chris


------------------------------

From: mike@cs.pdx.edu (Mike Harvey)
Subject: Re: Linux for the masses? (WordProcessing again)
Date: 3 Jun 1994 14:06:39 -0700

byron@cc.gatech.edu (Byron A Jeff) writes:

>-Telling a novice user that all he has
>-to do is hit ESC and arrow around to do anything he wants will surely
>-make him think before canning Linux because it is way too complex.
>-For the word processing part of it anyway.

>Ah but your rodent adversion is showing here Shawn! It's even easier with
>the rat! For example the DOS folks at work use minuet from UMinn for
>E-mail. It has the ALT-key menus like most other DOS tools. However it also
>works with the mouse driver. And it has function keys. If the mouse driver
>is working, almost everyone uses the rat instead of the keyboard. Function
>keys second, and the keyboard last.

>Like I said we're on the same page.

Agreed, most people WILL use the mouse if available.  But, if not, it
should still be easy to use.  I like the idea of 'ESC' (or equivalent)
to bring up a window, then arrow keys to navigate.  There are probably
plenty of windows machines out there with 4Mb and a 386 which *could*
run Linux, but not X windows.  They will remain DOS/windows machines
unless LWPS runs easily and intuitively in text mode.

>-I might suggest, however, that this project might be suited better for
>-coding in c++.  -I've been coding in it for a couple of months and 
>-think that the modularity of it is quite outstanding.  It would make
>-it easier to do this, I think.  This would mean scrapping some of
>-the joe code, but most could be easily converted to a c++ type of
>-thing.  Ideas?

Actually, I've hacked out a simple text-editor in C++, consisting of
a "Text" class implementing basic buffer operations, and a simple C
front end which handled file and console I/O.  It was much easier than
working in C, and is almost readable :-)  I have converted several
programs from C to to C++ and its not that difficult, though I'd
prefer starting clean.

I see several possible benefits to using C++, for your consideration
and/or discussion:

* A basic text engine could be implemented without too much work which
  would support basic editing and buffer operations (insert/delete,
  select, cut/copy/insert block, etc).  By encapsulating this within
  a class, it would be easy to support multiple editing buffers/windows.
  If desired, the buffer could even be viewed as a stream or some other
  model.
* The QuickScript codes could be hidden within the basic text-engine
  (or a derivative of it) so that the rest of the program only sees
  plain text.  A function call would then obtain whatever formatting
  is associated with the text being examined.  This would allow easy
  modification of the internal format without affecting the rest of the
  program.
* User interface issues could also be encapsulated into a "UI" class,
  presenting a uniform interface to the programmer.  Different "UI"
  classes could be written for console, ascii terminal, SVGAlib, X,
  or whatever.
* The text engine, as well as the user interface, could be used together
  or independently in other programs, as library modules.  This *could*
  promote a standard WP file format for Linux, as well as a similar
  UI in other programs (perhaps a "suite" for casual users? :-) 

>While c++ has many useful features, the one problem here is that ALL of
>the existing code is written in C. I don't think there is going to be
>much new code at all and writing it in c++ without converting all the other
>code won't buy much. Probably a better path is to do the patchwork on
>the 1st release or two (just to get it out quickly) then looking to do
>a complete rewrite further down the line.

Sounds reasonable.  If it is to be moved to C++ in the future, better
to plan for it now, though, especially with regard to data structures
and function profiles.  OTOH, if the basic text engine were rewritten
in C++ first, might that make the extensions easier to implement?  I
would tend to favor that approach.  Also, future rewrites would be a
simpler process.

My $2 (inflation, y'know)

Mike
-- 
Mike Harvey
mike@cs.pdx.edu
Put all things to the test; keep what is good. 

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.cd-rom
From: matthias@bonbit.deceiver.org (Matthias Brunke)
Subject: Re: What CD-ROM drive is this???
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 13:35:31 GMT

ramos@engr.latech.edu (Alex Ramos) writes:

>this drive, so the controller must be indeed a CM250, whatever that is.
>Can anybody guess the specs on this drive?
>What type of cd-rom drive is this, as far as Linux is concerned?

Seems do be a Philips CD-ROM Drive.

-- 
Yoda of Borg, am I. Assimilate you, I will...

Matthias Brunke                                   matthias@bonbit.deceiver.org
voice: +49-431-552722                              Matthias Brunke 2:242/262.9

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: tgm@netcom.com (Thomas G. McWilliams)
Subject: Re: Modem reliability under linux
Date: Sat, 4 Jun 1994 20:19:59 GMT

Frank Volf (volf@eb.ele.tue.nl) wrote:
: Finally, under linux, if I use minicom to do a z-modem upload/download
: I often get messages like (CRC ERROR,  data sub-packet too long or
: TIME OUT). When using telix I don't have these problems.

Do you have hardware flow control enabled? Most streaming protocols
like z-modem require hardware flow control. Read the man page
for stty. Try something like this: 

                  /bin/stty crtscts < /dev/cua1

Thomas
tgm@netcom.com


------------------------------

Crossposted-To: rec.games.programmer
From: bj@hatch.socal.com (Brendan Jones)
Subject: Not on PS/2s you don't! (Re: Linux game development)
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 17:27:08 GMT

In article <2sj971$ltm@engnews2.Eng.Sun.COM> sullivan@thresher.Eng.Sun.COM writes:
>[Long arguments about Dos, Windows, OS/2, and why each is better for
> developing videogames deleted. ]
>
>Considerer that Linux could actually make a pretty good game development
>platform: [...]

I agree Linux would be a good gaming platform, but unfortunately you have
to worry about configuration problems.  For example, Linux doesn't even
run on PS/2s, which already knocks a large number of potential users out
of your market.  (PS/2s store the config on a section of the hard disk
rather than in CMOS memory - Linux is hardwired to use CMOS).

I haven't tried to run Linux on PS/1s but It'd be a safe bet that
they can't run Linux either...  More people who can't run your program... :(


cheers
bj

-- 
"[NSF head] Dr.  Wolff  suggested barring mature services [..] In particular, 
NSF could bar the mail and news protocols [..] from the backbone and thereby
encourage private providers to offer a national mail backbone [..]" -RFC 1192.


------------------------------

From: rene@renux.frmug.fr.net (Rene COUGNENC)
Subject: Re: SLIP or PPP???
Date: 4 Jun 1994 01:23:18 GMT
Reply-To: cougnenc@hsc.fr.net (Rene COUGNENC)

Ce brave Frank Lofaro ecrit:

> Not that I'm saying the ppp codes does that though. Just that it is 
> much less tested for kernel usage.

I have been using the PPP code under linux for months and it works 
great, and Alfred Longuear did a great job recently to improve it.

In fact, you are right, in many cases SLIP is enough (PPP is complex);
on the other hand, under Linux, PPP is much easier to set, compared to
the problems people have with DIP, dynamic adressing, and so on...

The overhead does not seem to slow down a 14400 connection compared 
to SLIP, I get the same results. (compared to CSLIP).

I hope we don't start a PPP vs SLIP thread :-)
--
 linux linux linux linux -[ cougnenc@renux.frmug.fr.net ]- linux linux linux 

------------------------------

From: sde1000@hermes.cam.ac.uk (Stephen Early)
Subject: Re: Not on PS/2s you don't! (Re: Linux game development)
Date: 3 Jun 1994 21:48:40 GMT

In article <Cqu0H9.JvM@hatch.socal.com>,
Brendan Jones <bj@hatch.socal.com> wrote:
>I haven't tried to run Linux on PS/1s but It'd be a safe bet that
>they can't run Linux either...  More people who can't run your program... :(

Linux will, in fact, run perfectly well on PS/1s. You just need to tell 
the kernel the type of hard disk drive explicitly because it can't read 
it from the CMOS RAM.

Steve Early


------------------------------

From: dan@oea.hacktic.nl
Subject: Re: A System I am ordering....
Date: Sat, 4 Jun 1994 17:27:04 GMT

Michael K. Johnson (johnsonm@merengue.oit.unc.edu) wrote:

:          ATI Graphics Pro PCI Local Bus Video Adapter (MACH64 chipset?)

: Mach64 isn't yet supported; ATI isn't letting programming information
: out without an NDA, so it isn't likely to be soon.

This is false. Read below.

==============================================================================
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.video,comp.windows.x.i386unix
Path: oea.hacktic.nl!hacktic!sun4nl!EU.net!howland.reston.ans.net!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!ns.mcs.kent.edu!kira.cc.uakron.edu!malgudi.oar.net!utnetw.utoledo.edu!jupiter!ssnodgr
From: ssnodgr@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu (Steve Snodgrass)
Subject: ATI programming info policy
Message-ID: <Cqo6q1.AqH@utnetw.utoledo.edu>
Summary: ATI will release programming info
Keywords: ATI mach64 non-disclosure
Sender: news@utnetw.utoledo.edu (News Manager)
Organization: University of Toledo
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL0]
Date: Tue, 31 May 1994 13:56:25 GMT
Lines: 33

Some real info for the net:

I mailed Matt Arbeid of ATI asking whether ATI intends to release the
programming info for the Mach64 chipset, and he replied with the following.

@@@

From: marbeid@atitech.ca (Matthew Arbeid)
Subject: Re: ATI Graphics Pro Turbo programming info policy
To: ssnodgr@cse.utoledo.edu (Steve Snodgrass)
Date:   Sat, 28 May 1994 12:35:16 -0400

Please feed free to pass to the .net :-)
 
ATI will fully support the writers/coders of ANY alternative OS without
any NDA crap or other silly type legal stuff that makes productivity 
hard.
 
I/we don't know how these stories start (and we don't really care).
 
ATI has a dedicated 3rd party development group which was specificly tasked
to assist writers and developers.
 
More info will be posted to the .net when I get back from Comdex, yuch.
 
Matthew
ATI Technologies'

--
* Steve R. Snodgrass == ssnodgr@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu == Tigger
* Job: X11/Motif Programmer and Unix Person at Systems Alternatives, Inc.
* System: Mag DX17F, ??? (my system is currently under consruction! :^)
* GCS/E d? p c++ l+(++) u+(++) e-@ m+ s n-(---) h f g+ w+ t(+) r(+) y+*
==============================================================================
-- 
|< Dan Naas        dan@oea.hacktic.nl >|
+--------------------------------------+

------------------------------

From: phyjab1@phyd4c4.caledonia.hw.ac.uk (Jonathan A Buzzard)
Subject: Re: Cheap printer for Linux
Reply-To: phyjab1@phyd4c4.caledonia.hw.ac.uk (Jonathan A Buzzard)
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 1994 20:44:54 GMT


--

>Tamas Badics <badics@rutcor.rutgers.edu> wrote:
>>Hi Everybody,
>>
>>I'd like to buy a relatively cheap printer for my linux machine. 
>>Most of the time I'll print dvi or postscript files. I was wondering if I 
>>buy a non-postscript printer, are there any software which makes it possible?
>>
>>I was thinking about getting a printer like Canon BJ-200, or similar.
>>What is your oppinion? 
>
>I really like the BJ200.  Ghostscript does a nice job converting
>postscript to bj200 output.  You can create a filter script
>that automatically converts postscript too.  This is the best
>way since writing converted output to disk results in huge files.
>
>A bj200 has a very small footprint when its not printing - great
>for when you cover your desk with other junk.  Its also pretty
>quiet.  The output can smear if you get it wet.
>
>(Btw:  The sample script is in the printing howto.)
>
>Mike

Try an Epson Stylus 800, cheaper to run better print quality on standard
copier paper than the Canon BubbleJets, 100 sheet paper feeder built in, and
can be had for under 200 pounds in the UK now if you shop around, so it is cheaper to buy as well. (use the ESC/P2 driver in Ghostscript). 

JAB.


===============================================================================
Jonathan A. Buzzard,              
Physics Department,           Email:-
Heriot-Watt University,            phyjab1@caledonia.hw.ac.uk   InterNet
Edinburgh. EH14 4AS                phyjab1@uk.ac.hw.clust       JANET
United Kingdom.

------------------------------


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