p40001@mcomp.UUCP (10/18/86)
My response to the "UNIX-like PC-Shell" note by ihlpf!alt was sent out incomplete, so here it is again, with all the info: > I have read of two UNIX-like shells for the PC. They are: > 1. Dr. Dobb's Journal of Software Tools > 501 Galveston Dr. - Redwood City, CA 94063 > Shell=$29.95; /util=$29.95; Both=$50. > 2. Kent William - 722 Rundell St. - Iowa City, IA 52240 > Donation=$25. - will send compiled version & "C" source > I don't know anything about either of these two, other than what I read in > an ad. Anyone have any experience? I have not used the Holub-Shell ( #1 above); Kent William's PC-shell (#2) is quite nice but introduces a number of deviations from C-Shell syntax which I find annoying. Also, both PC-Shell, as well as the shell listed as #3 below have slight troubles with programs which have the '/' hard-wired into them as the switch character (i.e. DOS LINK, and a few other programs.). Also, PC-Shell will not run well apart from COMMAND.COM - it has to be started on top of COMMAND.COM, not instead of it. I would like to list two other shells currently available and mention one about to be released: 3. Micro C-Shell, by David Beckemeyer. He advertises in Dr. Dobb's, and his shell runs well as a replacement for COMMAND.COM. It is fairly close to the UNIX C-Shell, and sells for ca. $40. 4. Percent Shell, from Thompson Automation. This seems (from literature I have received) one of the most complete and thought-through products of this type, with solutions even for the switch character problem mentioned above. It sells for $95, from Thompson Automation, P.O.Box 5163, Beaverton, OR 97006; 503-645-9434. 5. MKS Korn Shell -- due for beta testing in November. This is part of version 2.1 of the MKS Toolkit. The entire toolkit, which includes such goodies as sed, awk, vi/ex, etc., sells for $139 from MKS, 43 Bridgeport Rd. East, Waterloo, Ont. N2J 2J4, Canada; phone 519-884-2251; uucp ihnp4!watmath!mks!toolkit. One of the nice things about the MKS toolkit is that they attempt to provide extremely complete implementations, based on SVR2; I expect their KORN shell to fit that pattern, supporting every feature that can possibly be implemented under MS-DOS. Note that my only connection with both David Beckemeyer and MKS is as a very satisfied customer, and I have no connection with Thompson Automation. Note also that both MKS and Thompson have extremely generous discounts for folks who buy more than one copy of the product; MKS lets you make additional copies of both software and documentation for $60 each, and Thompson will sell 2-4 copies for 66.50 each, 5-9 copies for $57 each, etc. ----------------------------------------------------- Wolf N. Paul, 290 Dogwood, Plano, Tx. 75075 UUCP: ihnp4!convex!mcomp!doulos!wnp or ihnp4!convex!mcomp!p40001 Phone: (214) 578-8023 W.U.ESL: 6283-2882