Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!psuvax1!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!bronze!regoli
From: regoli@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Michael Regoli)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: How about a list of updates at cica? (COMPROMISE?)
Message-ID: <1991May1.205024.21611@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
Date: 1 May 91 20:50:24 GMT
References: <1991Apr30.220542.13172@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <20887.281db7dd@oregon.uoregon.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Indiana University
Lines: 57

dalbrich@oregon.uoregon.edu writes:

>I've noticed the INDEX file on cica lacks dates on files.

Wrong.  New for the Spring 1991 season are file creation dates in all
the index files.  The date is in YYMMDD format for easy sorting.

>>>I don't think posting this would be a benefit to anyone.  Those with
>>>ftp access normally get a copy of the INDEX on a daily basis anyway.
>>>
>>>mr@cica.indiana.edu
>> 
>> Yeah right, those of us with ftp access get the INDEX file daily, and then
>> have to hunt through the whole damn thing just to get the
>> descriptions of the recent stuff.
>> -brian brian@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Brian Hoffman)

Spoken like a true New Yorker(tm) :)  Believe it or not, of the
approximately 1,700 logins per day to cica, 99% are login sessions
UNDER A MINUTE.  I'm figuring this is due to the success of the
"autoftp" or "batchftp" programs that are out there.  These
connections are probably snarfing the INDEX file and that's it.  

Hey, it's no big deal to create a "Top Ten" or "Top Twenty" or "Top
Whatever" list of the most recent uploads that can reside in the win3
subdirectory.  POSTING this file on a regular basis is another.  

>>grep -v \* INDEX | sed -e 's/\n//' | awk '{print $2, $1}' | sort -rn | head -10

>>I don't think that UNIX command a)is particularly rememberable for
>>everyone (OK, I could make it into a script, but I'm not sure how to
>>do so.), and b)isn't useful if there have been more than 10 new
>>downloads!  
>> Adam Elman (elmanad@leland.stanford.edu)

True, it's not particuarly easy to remember, but just cut out the one
line, place it in a file, and "chmod u+x filename".  That's all you
need to do.  Just type the filename to execute the command.

(Note the "head -10" command extracts the first ten lines.  To see them all,
omit that last command.)

Anyhow, posting this file has several implications.  Main among them
is the size of my mailbox.  Placing a file list like this opens up
E-Mail Hell.  No offense, but UUCP and BITNET sites will go crazy
contacting me (or the anonymous posting service) trying to get ahold
of these files.  Second, I don't want comp.windows.ms to become
cannabalized into comp.windows.ms.cica.  Third, I'm still "stinging"
from the discussion in comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d about the merits of
regular advertisements from quasi-successful ftp sites (see point
two). 

-- 

michael regoli
regoli@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu
regoli@iubacs.BITNET