Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu!anu-news!list From: JOHNSON@NORTHEASTERN.EDU (I am only an egg.) Newsgroups: news.software.anu-news Subject: Re: patching Message-ID: Date: 8 Jan 90 20:57:00 GMT Sender: ANU-NEWS Discussion Reply-To: "I am only an egg." Lines: 54 X-VMS-To: IN%"anu-news@vm1.nodak.edu" >Assuming we distribute full source for each new >version, how do you propose to distribute fixes, >for example the fix recently posted by Lenny >Glassman for the OPEN/MAIL problem? (Thanks, >Lenny.) Should we issue a new source version every >time a 2 line patch is added? If we do, then >everyone will have a different version of the >source, ie some people will have V5.9, some V5.9A, >etc. If someone fixes a problem, and postes a >patch, it will be more difficult to distribute to >the world, because there isn't any STANDARD source >against which to apply it. I never said it was perfect. > >I agree that it would be a good to simplify the >process of updating to a new version of NEWS. My >recent posting of the SLP patchs as command files >was an attempt to simplify the process somewhat. >Would you be satisfied if you loaded some BASE >source, and then typed a couple of commands which >would automatically update the BASE source to the >current patch level? >-- >Bob Sloane, University of Kansas Computer Center, The simpler the betterer. I think one of my bigger objections is that most patching requires human intervention in some way or other. People are prone to screw-ups, some of us more than others. Plus the fact that sometimes various networks chuck in their two cents worth. I still remember a set of patches from a v5.8 that got folded to 80 characters and messed up the patching that way. I suppose a two line patch doesn't bother me much. At least I can see the whole thing without putting on my glasses. I would probably have a good chance of understanding something that small also and therefore wouldn't be as terrified as I usually am when running a DEC auto-patch (they change the binaries without tell you what they're changing). What really bothers me is when the patches get really big I guess. Or maybe also when there are a lot of them that bothers me too. After 21 years in the computer business I guess my paranoia is showing. I'll take any suggestions to make life simpler and safer for everyone. If a couple of typed command lines would update me from a base version them I'm all for it. Chris J. Northeastern U.