Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!mcdphx!jazz!lynn From: lynn@phx.mcd.mot.com (Lynn D Newton) Newsgroups: comp.lang.rexx Subject: Re: need a REXX-flavored version of getopt() Message-ID: Date: 18 Sep 90 12:42:11 GMT References: <90239.171548BOYDJ@QUCDN.BITNET> <147@rufus.UUCP> <9493@gremlin.nrtc.northrop.com> <7096@alvin.mcnc.org> Sender: listen@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com Distribution: comp Organization: Motorola MCD Lines: 52 In-reply-to: brooking@mcnc.org's message of 18 Sep 90 00:23:50 GMT I started this whole thing, and have, I believe, seen all of the traffic on it. It began when I asked if anyone out there had written a fairly complete implementation of the UNIX getopt() function that they would be willing to share with the world (me). I did receive a number of email replies, some of which missed the point entirely of what I was looking for. At least one person understood completely, and even offered to write it if I would supply the C source code to getopt(), which unfortunately, is AT&T copyrighted, and as a software engineer working for a UNIX source licensee, I have signed nondisclosure agreements preventing me from sending out such things. I thank all those who took the trouble to reply in some fashion or other. BTW, there _is_ an AT&T-produced public domain version of getopt() floating around somewhere which differs from the copyrighted version only in the way it handles one or two of the rules that are controversial to start with. I've seen the source to both, and the variable names are even the same. I may even have it at home, if anyone is interested (it's only about 60 lines of C code, as I recall). The bulk of the replies have said essentially: o 'Tis indeed a difficult thing to do. which I knew. I'm a reasonably capable programmer myself, but am not inclined to tackle it on my own, because I have other things to tend do, which is why I was looking for a handout. o My computer is better than yours. More language wars. On the positive side, it has increased the amount of traffic in this group, which I am glad to see. I've seen it go for weeks without a posting. However, at this writing I still have no REXX implementation of getopts(). I think I will gather all the discussion that has been posted and snailmail it to William Hawes, the programmer of ARexx, and see if I can convince him to write a getopts() library routine for inclusion with ARexx so that all the great number of Amiga users who have or will have ARexx (it's bundled with version 2.0 of the operating system, for the information of readers who are unaware of it), can also have this very valuable functionality. -- ================================================================= Lynn D. Newton | System Test Motorola MCD, Tempe, AZ | (Department of Heuristic Neology) (602) 438-3739 | "The bug stops here!" lynn@jazz.phx.mcd.mot.com |