Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbatt!ihnp4!alberta!calgary!radford
From: radford@calgary.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Animated watch cursor.
Message-ID: <777@vaxb.calgary.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Jan-87 13:10:29 EST
Article-I.D.: vaxb.777
Posted: Wed Jan 28 13:10:29 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Jan-87 06:50:33 EST
References: <7488@decwrl.DEC.COM> <603@runx.OZ> <607@runx.OZ> <176@trwspf.UUCP>
Organization: U. of Calgary, Calgary, Ab.
Lines: 23

In article <176@trwspf.UUCP>, vito@trwspf.UUCP (Herb Barad) writes:

> >> Something silly about Finder 5.4b1 is that it has an animated watchcursor,
> >> just like Servant. Is there any need for such a thing?

> >If this is what I think it is, it's an AWFUL idea...

> Actually, I think it is a good idea.  I lot of times a program hangs (due
> to various reasons), it happens with when the watch cursor is up.  If the
> program has really hung, you can't really tell because you are suppose to
> wait.  

I presume these animated watch cursors are implemented by installing a
vertical retrace interrupt routine. If so, they aren't a very reliable
guide to whether the application as a whole is still operating. My guess
is that the watch cursor will keep turning as long as you can move the
mouse.

Do you really sit there looking at the animated watch cursor so you can
tell immediately if your application has crashed? If so, you need more
reliable software.

     Radford Neal