Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!pyramid!voder!apple!dowdy From: dowdy@apple.UUCP (Tom Dowdy) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Reasons to avoid StuffIt. Message-ID: <6609@apple.UUCP> Date: Tue, 3-Nov-87 11:58:37 EST Article-I.D.: apple.6609 Posted: Tue Nov 3 11:58:37 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 7-Nov-87 03:13:36 EST References: <1562@sics.se> <7499@dartvax.UUCP> <7507@dartvax.UUCP> <2103@tekig4.TEK.COM> Reply-To: dowdy@apple.UUCP (Tom Dowdy) Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, USA Lines: 46 Keywords: stuffit packit binhex unpit In article <2103@tekig4.TEK.COM> bradn@tekig4.UUCP (Bradford Needham) writes: > >1) Binary transfer is complex enough as it is. To download programs from >the net, a user needs all of: Kermit (or similar), BinHex, and Packit (or >UnPit). StuffIt adds yet another protocol to the minimum set. Why complicate >matters? > I agree. I don't mind binary transfers, but why I have to go through so many steps and procedures sometimes really makes me wonder. I don't agree with the point to avoid StuffIt, as net bandwidth is a serious matter to "the powers that be". But I think I have a suggestion that would fix the problem of having all of those applications just to convert files. >To authors who would write yet another binary transfer protocol for the Mac: >There are so many fantastically useful applications that haven't been written; >why waste your creativity rewriting those that already exist? > I have something for people like this to write. When I was still in school I had a great idea. Write a public domain conversion program that did BinHex and Packit in one place, plus provided routines to automatically convert any incoming or outgoing ASCII character into another either before or after BINHEXing. (We had a problem with Kermit and our IBM when I tried to BITNET a file to a VAX, the only solution was some clever character translations before sending) Add onto this a hot interface and you're all set. Maybe even provide a way to automatically combine multitple files. (IE, with this program you would only need your transfer software and that would be it. No two different conversion programs, plus a text editor just in case you needed to strip files) Think about it, the BINHEX/PackIt combination is *so* common, it would be very easy to automate the process, even detecting if PackIting (is that a word) needed to be done. I was all ready to write this one, but was unable to come up with formats for PackIt and BinHex (although that one I could have figured out). I'm not really in a position to write such a thing now, but I would love to see someone do it. >Brad Needham Tom Dowdy CSNET: dowdy@apple.CSNET Apple Computer MS:27Y AppleLink:DOWDY1 20525 Mariani Ave UUCP: {sun,voder,amdahl,decwrl}!apple!dowdy Cupertino, CA 95014 "IN VENICE STOP STREETS FILLED WITH WATER STOP PLEASE ADVISE STOP"