Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!autodesk!glang
From: glang@Autodesk.COM (Gary Lang)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Just what we need - PC programs for the NeXT
Message-ID: <1125@autodesk.COM>
Date: 6 Dec 90 08:41:45 GMT
References: <11920@milton.u.washington.edu> <25678@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> <1023@autodesk.COM> <25742@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>
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Organization: Autodesk Inc., Sausalito CA, USA
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In-reply-to: bb@swamp.cis.ufl.edu's message of 5 Dec 90 02:55:53 GMT

>I have seen an application writer attempt to skirt the edges of this
>trade off, they have ended up creating an application that is unusable
>because it is unreliable.

Examples...? You're saying that 1-2-3 is "unusable"? Please, I think 
I'm being misunderstood here; I really meant that it's OK to do it
in the PC world and yields real benefits. As I recall (probably diumly)
this thread started because someone wanted to write a screensave
without using the appkit. The NeXT is a perfectly good DPS system and it's
perfectly fine to write an applcation that addresses the entire window
rectangle through DPS - this is hardly bare metal work here.

>but merely unwillingness to exert the effort to properly error-trap
>the code.

I thought we were discussing going around a system's protection
mechanisms for performance, not exception handling. This is apple
pie - everybody believes in proper exception handling (except..oh
never mind).

>When was the last time you saw a C programmer replace stdio.h with
>their own package?

The last time I saw a C programmer do that was about 

>Well, I completely disagree with your speed assessment. 

it's your right, but I find it unusable, so your disagreement doesn't
increase the utility of it for me...it's just too slow.

>Your comments seem to indicate that you disagree with the "overhead"
>of an Operating System. The purpose of an Operating System is to...

No of course not. Again I was referring to the PC world, not the
windowing environment world. You're reading too much into what I
said; I totally agree with you.

While I am saying that developers like Lotus, Ashton-Tate et al who've been
very successful at writing apps that break a few rules had good reason
to do so, I am not saying that this is the case on a platform like the
NeXT (I never intend to do it in my apps), and I'm not sure why I or
anybody on the net needs a lecture on what Operating Systems are
used for in this context.

> If you want a fast PC, get a 486.  I'll take a NeXT.

I disagree. I think that the NeXT *is* a fast PC. Not to mention the
best one, or the blackest one or the best of breed, etc. that's why
I bought one and write software for it.

All of this is my opinion (actually there is some fact here but...)
and your mileage may vary.