Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!acsu.buffalo.edu
From: cloos@acsu.buffalo.edu (James H. Cloos)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Libraries and versions
Message-ID: <68505@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 3 Apr 91 01:40:38 GMT
Sender: news@acsu.Buffalo.EDU
Organization: State University of New York @ Buffalo
Lines: 47
Nntp-Posting-Host: lictor.acsu.buffalo.edu

I was thinking the otehr day about how I want to include copyright
messages, etc. in my libraries.  Given the number that are out there, I
would like to avoid any possibility of name conflicts--at least with the
version and copyright stuff.

I'm looking at the following format for each of the commands to assure
continuity and no conflicts:

(Below, `name' refers to a libraries (possibly abbreviated) name and
`number' to its (decimal) id number.  Also, I'll use `@' to refer to \169,
the copyright symbol.)

@name		[see next]
@number		paints a copyright screen, incl author's name, whether
		copyrighted or pd, whether freeware, shareware, or
		commercialware.  This shows up as Cnumber in the menu.

VERSname	[see next]
VERSnumber	returns a version number to the stack.  Should be design-
		ed so that a program that uses the routines in this lib
		call use this to confirm whether it'll work.

This shouldn't add too much to the size of the libs.  (I'll bet this will
even be a concern when 3-d memory devices are perfected and the handhelds
have 64 (or maybe 256 or 4K) address and data lines--word-addressed at
that; no more of this byte-addressing nonsense (IMHO).)  If there is a very
large profusion of libraries out there, it would be nice to be able to have
on-line mention of who wrote it; obviously copyrighted stuff in general and
shareware/commercialware stuff in specific NEED this info.  Further
assuming that these libraries will not be static projects, allowing
programs that use them to confirm that the needed version of the lib is
there is helpful.  (NB: the code /<< VERS1500 4.52 SAME \>> not only tests
to see if the version is 4.52, but also tests whether the library is
ATTACHed in the first place.)

I thought I'd put this out onto the net to elicit responces.  Please post
all replies so that a resounding discussion can take place!  ;^)

Seriously, though, all replies are welcome!

Happy (system (sh!)) Programming!

-JimC
--
James H. Cloos, Jr.		Phone:  +1 716 673-1250
cloos@ACSU.Buffalo.EDU		Snail:  PersonalZipCode:  14048-0772, USA
cloos@ub.UUCP			Quote:  <>