wald@mhuxd.UUCP (11/16/83)
I have run into a need for a feature in netnews which I haven't heard discussed and (I think) would not be too complicated. I consider it an ordering feature due to my needs but the idea can be generalized. WHat follows is a somewhat specific explanation of a general idea: I'd like to see a line added to an item header of the form ORDER: <unix command with parameters> THis line would get executed within readnews (or vnews or whatever) by typing something (o for example) potentially with parameters. So say someone does a poll and want yes/no answers. THe order line could be ORDER: echo "Vote $*" | mail PATH and people could simply respond by typing "o y" or "o n". Or I saw someone who wanted everybody to send mail saying when they saw his news item - I didn't bother but I might have been willing to type "o" and an order line of form echo "Got here" | mail PATH could have executed. Yes I see security problems, etc. However, I think the idea has value. My need is so people can order what I announce (yes it would be used within local organizational groups). E.g. I can announce that my organization's library has a new book and if you want it type o. THis in turn would submit an order. I imagine many organizations would find a use for such a system for promulgating and taking orders for things they are willing to announce on even a local piece of the net. Comments? -- Bob waldstein (mhuxt | mhuxd)!wald MH6a-313 x6171
barmar@mit-eddie.UUCP (11/23/83)
References: <1184@mhuxd.UUCP> Relay-Version:version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site duke.UUCP Posting-Version:version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-eddie.UUCP Path:duke!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!barmar Message-ID:<949@mit-eddie.UUCP> Date:Wed, 23-Nov-83 02:02:06 EST Organization:MIT, Cambridge, MA Unfortunately your examples can't work. Most of you examples included the command "mail PATH". The problem is that PATH is site-dependent. Things would have to get pretty complicated to make this work right. -- Barry Margolin ARPA: barmar@MIT-Multics UUCP: ..!genrad!mit-eddie!barmar