Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!chuq
From: chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: Re: Call For Discussion: comp.sys.mac reorganization
Message-ID: <38783@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 20 Feb 90 00:48:11 GMT
References: <38768@apple.Apple.COM> <3996@hub.UUCP>
Organization: Fictional Reality: where your dreams can come true
Lines: 50

6600pete@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu (GurgleKat [Pete Gontier]) writes:

>I don't have any problems with the proposal as it stands except for the fact
>that comp.sys.mac.programmer isn't mentioned at all. This isn't necessarily
>bad, since it could mean that Chuq's proposal wants to leave it alone. On
>the other hand, I've always thought that comp.sys.mac.hypercard belonged
>comp.sys.mac.programmer.hypercard.

I currently plan on leaving c.s.m.programmer alone because I really don't
think it needs to be fixed.

c.s.m.hypercard's an interesting thing. HyperCard tends to defy explanation.
I generally describe it to people as "the Basic of the 90's" but that's not
really a fair description, either. it was suggested to me as
c.s.m.appl.hypercard, c.s.m.appl.db.hypercard, c.s.m.p.hypercard -- there
are just lots of places where it almost fits. 

I decided against putting it in programmer because there's a lot of
functionality and utility that has nothing to do with programming hypercard.
There are a lot of users out there that never do any scripting and just use
stacks other people write. A c compiler, on the other hand, is something you
wouldn't use unless you were compiling something. So I put it under appl.

I could be convinced to change that, but I think that while programming HC
is an important aspect, it's not the only important aspect, and it's better
to put it in with the applications.

As to c.s.m.p itself, I considered setting it up as a hierarchy, but I think
it might be overkill right now. I also considered setting it up with the
amiga naming standards (c.s.m.tech), which is easier to type and probably a
better name for a hierarchy (programmer is better for a single group,
though). Try:

c.s.m.tech.c
c.s.m.tech.macapp
c.s.m.tech.misc
c.s.m.tech.mpw
c.s.m.tech.pascal

Considering the volumn in c.s.m.p right now, do we really buy anything with
this? I tend to think it's too-much-too-soon, but maybe we ought to get it
all out of the way now. that's why we're in the discussion phase: to hack
this out. I can be convinced either way.

-- 

Chuq Von Rospach   <+>   chuq@apple.com   <+>   [This is myself speaking]

Rumour has it that Larry Wall, author of RN, is a finalist in the race for
the Nobel Peace Prize for his invention of the kill file.