Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:53942 comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer:2360 comp.os.msdos.apps:32 comp.os.msdos.misc:35 comp.os.msdos.programmer:79
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!crackers!m2c!umvlsi!umvlsi.ecs.umass.edu
From: breck@umvlsi.ecs.umass.edu (William Breck)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer,comp.os.msdos.apps,comp.os.msdos.misc,comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: unix utils for dos - SUMMARY
Message-ID: <1103@umvlsi.ecs.umass.edu>
Date: 11 Jul 90 17:06:50 GMT
Sender: breck@umvlsi.ecs.umass.edu
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Lines: 35

When I posted my summary of responses, I mentioned that Polyshell was
"rumored" to be better than MKS Toolkit.  The truth of the matter is,
_one_ of the netters who replied liked Polyshell better.  No one else
compared the two until after my summary was posted.  Since the
summary posting, a netter sent me the following info:

"MKS has more utilities and has gone to a lot of trouble to ensure that
its utilities conform to the System V definitions or the draft POSIX.2
Shell and Utilities interface as appropriate.  (Note that the SVID
covers a lot that isn't mentioned at all in POSIX.2 or POSIX.2a)
PolyShell hasn't really made much effort to follow the POSIX.2 effort.

"Folks who prefer Berkeley-flavoured things like the C Shell and who
aren't very POSIX-oriented might well prefer PolyShell, while folks
who are POSIX or System V oriented will be much happier with the MKS
Toolkit.

"The other consideration in comparing them is the matter of support
and MKS has a quite solid reputation for supporting its customers
while Polytron is dropping its support.

"[Another user] has been quite happy with the shell described in `On
Command' and with its accompanying utilities from `/util' that M&T
Publishing sells.  It doesn't do as much as either PolyShell or the
MKS Toolkit, but if it meets your needs then it is a reasonable way to
save money."

This same user reports that he has heard of a product called the
"Hamilton C Shell" from another vendor.  He didn't have any more info
about it though.

If I can be of help, or need more enlightenment about this topic, feel
free to email me!

Liam