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From: sl195@cc.usu.edu (A banana is not a toy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Old AmigaLibDisk material
Message-ID: <1990Nov21.103640.42994@cc.usu.edu>
Date: 21 Nov 90 16:36:40 GMT
References: <9654@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> <35991@cup.portal.com> <14089@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com>
Organization: Utah State University
Lines: 65

In article <14089@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com>, fnf@riscokid.UUCP (Fred Fish) writes:
> In article <35991@cup.portal.com> thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) writes:
>>Which brings me to a rambling comment concerning some archives sites removing
>>"old" Fish Disks ... DON'T.  Some of the MOST valuable code examples for the
>>Amiga can be found on early Fish Disks (i.e. #5).  The program I cited above
>>is on Fish Disk #36, and just yesterday I referred someone to Fish Disk #79
>>for the source to Chuck McManis' "INFO" clone.  Just because something may
>>have been written 4, 5 or 6 years ago does NOT make it obsolete ... in fact,
>>some of the early programs were so good that no-one has been able to improve
>>upon them.  Even most of the early Usenet Amiga discussions from mid-1985 are
>>still valuable today (which is why I've kept those archives all these years).
> 
> Good comment Thad.  Examination of some of the early disks, and then
> some of the latest, will show that the "flavor" of the library has
> changed substantially over the years.  A depressingly common portion
> of the description of each item on some of the newer disks is "binary only".
> People seem more reluctant these days to release source.
> 
> I have been tempted to start a new policy of only including material for
> which source is either distributed with the material, or available from the
> author, and that such source has to be provided (even if not distributed)
> with any submissions.  This would probably noticably cut down on the number
> of future disks, but I think the overall quality would be higher.
> Comments pro and con are invited...
> 
> On an unrelated note, I am starting to think about giving the "look and
> feel" of my library disks a facelift.  Specifically, updated icons that
> look great under 2.0 and passable under 1.3, and other 2.0 vs 1.3
> issues.  If anyone with some artistic ability would like to see one
> of their icons adopted for use in the library, please feel free to
> send me a sample of your work.  
> 
> -Fred

I'm grateful for those people who do send code, because there are some
things that I've not been able to get information on. (Applause to 
Anders Bjerin's (I hope I spelled that right) CManual. I just looked at
it yesterday.)

Even if the code is shoddy, the protocol for making the propper calls
has to be there, and I can pick that out.  (BTW, I've never plagerized 
another's code. Anybody who does that aught to be shot.  I just need an 
example or two on how to make certain system calls.)

However, there are a few (a few) *very* useful programs that are bin-onlys.
I'm reluctant to see them go, but if somebody's going to truely release 
something into the public domain, they aught to let out the source, too.
ShareWare may be a different story, but ofttimes the author will provide
the source if you desire after you register your copy.

I know that I've not said much yea or nay, but that's my 25c worth.


jk

-- 

All comments are my own, and many must be taken with a :-)
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