Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!unido!rwthinf!cip-s01.informatik.rwth-aachen.de!u31b3hs
From: u31b3hs@cip-s01.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Michael Haardt)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Trouble with AM - a solution ?
Message-ID: <4335@rwthinf.UUCP>
Date: 23 May 91 12:31:29 GMT
Sender: news@rwthinf.UUCP
Reply-To: u31b3hs@cip-s01.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Michael Haardt)
Organization: Informatik RWTH Aachen
Lines: 43

Hello world,

after reading comp.os.minix this morning, I want to suggest a solution
for the AM problem.  If I am right, PH does not like that a third party
distributes a *complete* MINIX version, even if the recipients bought
original MINIX from PH.  In my opinion Fred van Kempen has centralised
things too much for PH.  This makes administration easier, but PH does
not like it.  I do not believe that they can be convinced.  Another
point is that I do not like a 20 meg tape without having the choice
what extensions should be made.

Fred's argument was that applying packages of diffs for everything will
be too difficult for a lot of people.  I don't think so, because most
people do not want all extensions.  There are a some MINIXers who have
problems with upgrades, but most of us are connected to a network...
We will help them in future like we do now - and it works.

My suggestion is to set up a list of MINIX programs (complete set of diffs,
standalone programs, interesting documents, drivers etc) which should
be administrated like the MINIX information sheet and posted regularly.
Each point should take about 20 lines describing contents, version number,
author, *one* reference ftp adress and a unique filename or directory
for it.  The advantages are obvious:

-   You will find things you are looking for in archives, due to
    unique file/directory names
-   You always know the current version of a project
-   People do not waste time on inventing wheels twice, as happens
    very often at the moment
-   Reduction of network traffic (Where can I get xyz, Is there a newer
    version, Is there something like xyz for MINIX, ftp'ing big files to
    investigate them etc...)
-   No second-hand things, patched by someone who do not know where
    to send diffs to
 
We should discuss this.  If the result is positive, I would administrate
such a list.

Namaskaar

Michael Haardt

BTW: This is not a flame against anybody.