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Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-lcc!pyramid!mikeb
From: mikeb@pyrnova (mike brennan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Unix like tools for MSDOS enviroment...
Message-ID: <2876@pyramid.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Jun-87 02:32:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyramid.2876
Posted: Fri Jun  5 02:32:40 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Jun-87 02:32:26 EDT
References: <365@booboo.UUCP> <1969@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP>
Sender: daemon@pyramid.UUCP
Reply-To: mikeb@pyrnova.UUCP (mike brennan)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Lines: 51

In article <1969@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP> phillip@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Phillip Lindsay CATS) writes:
> 
>	PVCS, PolyShell, PowerCom, PolyMake
>
PVCS: very close to RCS. Their current version - 1.3 - fixes a lot of
      earlier problems. Use it solely in a single user environment, so cannot
      speak about there multiuser version.

Polyshell: Rel 1.1, is the first commercial release. Supports most shell
      functions. Uses about 16k of memory, but pulls in two overlay
      files for some of the library calls: they say they do this to keep
      the size of the utilities down which are in some cases bigger
      than equivalent utilities available in the public domain that run
      directly under DOS.

      Have been using this for 3 months, and have run into very few
      problems. The shell programming is very akin to csh (they claim
      the Korn shell: but not having used this have no comment), and the
      history function is identical. Have a very slick help facility. 

      The utilities are pretty complete but missing are:
	 awk, od, dd, ed (really need this with diff), cpio, profile 

      Bugs: cannot load TSR programs under the shell

  Powercom: never used, but specs look impressive (if you are brave
      Polyshell has a complete 'cu' utilitiy).

  Polymake: their Rel 2.0, is much much faster than the older 1.3e
     release. This is a really complete  make.

  Polylibrarian: a very good library manager

  PC/VI: since vi is not implemented in Polyshell, PC/VI is a really
     good implementation of vi. G
     Gripes: requires FANSI-console to work well. 
	     takes inordinate amount of time to load large files.
	     does something totally non-standard to invoke the shell,
	     (command.com -K I believe) that prevents polyshell being
	     executed under pc/vi.
     
 Brief: If you are not a vi 'afficiando' (as
     I am), then I think BRIEF is a much better editor. Very fast
     screen writing, multiple command line options, supports backup and
     save files, multiple windows, sane key stroke sequences, ability
     to compile and correct errors directly from your editing window.
     All key sequences can be redefined, and has a macro language to
     allow generation of any command you want. Big gripe, only one
     scrap buffer, and can only place one mark in the file.

Caveat: I have no relationship to Polytron, am just a satisfied user.