Newsgroups: comp.editors
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!mtu.edu!mtu.edu!stuart
From: stuart@mtu.edu (Tim Prodin)
Subject: Re: Xedit is better than vi and emacs
Message-ID: <1991Apr3.161607.16353@mtu.edu>
Sender: news@mtu.edu
Reply-To: stuart@mtu.edu (Tim Prodin)
Organization: Michigan Technological University
References:  <2197@pdxgate.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 91 16:16:07 GMT



In article <2197@pdxgate.UUCP>, jonr@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Jon Edmund Richards) writes:
|> 
|> 
|>             My boss made the statement last week that, in many ways,
|>           Xedit is better than vi and emacs.

XEDIT is the best editor to use if you are on any S/370 machine.  Vi is my
choice for UNIX editing.  XEDIT isn't appropiate for UNIX, and vi is a unique
chalange on S/370 platforms.


|>                                                          I have to
|>           present a paper either supporting my belief that Xedit
|>           has outlived its usefulness or a description of how Xedit
|>           surpasses my favorite Unix editors.

This whole debate has shades of "My editor can beat up your editor" arguements.
The two editors run in different environments, and there is no real comparison.

|> 
|>             In my opinion, Xedit is a dinosaur and should be as much
|>           a part of computing history as those punch cards that the
|>           professors tell us about.  
|>

My opinion is that you are on drugs.  XEDIT is a unique tool that, when used
properly on a S/370 machine, can equeal a whole set of UNIX utilities.  XEDIT
has a complete macro language, REXX, and very seamlessly integrates with the
rest of the platform and operating system.

Vi doesn't need these capabilities because there are other tools available, such
as AWK and sed.
 

The reason that I didn't address any issues about emacs is that I would
rather dive into a pool of my own vomit than use it.  Emacs may have a 
macro language, and may have all sorts of features, but you pay a severe
penalty for having everything but the kitchen sink built into your editor.

Most of non-programming computing is selecting the right tool for the job,
Editing on UNIX means vi, Editing on S/370 means XEDIT.  I don't like emacs
because it attempts to be all things for all people, which is the wrong 
approach.

-- 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Complacent youth, thats all they want                 Timothy R. Prodin
 but if they want trouble they'll get it."                stuart@mtu.edu