POURNE%mit-mc@sri-unix.UUCP (01/16/84)
From: Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE@mit-mc> Dear Mr. Li: Perhaps you know best. Me, I will not use Fn 37; I have seen too many disk directories trashed. Re: how, it is NOT triggered ONLY by writing to improperly opened/closed files. There is NO (known to me) simple algorithm for preventing the fn 37 bug from biting you, even taking meticulous care. Or so say several sources I trust. You are welcome to continue using fn 37 with its undocumented features. My apologies for bringing up the subject. I really ought to know better by now. JEP
Tli%usc-eclb@sri-unix.UUCP (01/16/84)
From: Tony Li <Tli@usc-eclb>
Date: 16 January 1984 04:58 EST
From: Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE @ MIT-MC>
To: Tli @ USC-ECLB
cc: Info-Cpm @ BRL-VGR
Re: BDOS Function 37 possible bug.
Return-path: <POURNE@MIT-MC>
Received: from MIT-MC by USC-ECLB; Mon 16 Jan 84 01:59:12-PST
Dear Mr. Li:
Perhaps you know best.
As I stated directly in my first comment. I DO NOT KNOW BEST. I DO
NOT KNOW CP/M-80 EVENT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE READERS OF THIS LIST DO.
Me, I will not use Fn 37; I have seen too many disk
directories trashed.
You may be right. If indeed there is a bug, I would like to know
about it. Bugs should be common knowledge. When DRI finds out about
a bug, it publishes a small in-house sheet, and then considers it a
feature.
Re: how, it is NOT triggered ONLY by writing to
improperly opened/closed files. There is NO (known to me)
simple algorithm for preventing the fn 37 bug from biting you,
even taking meticulous care. Or so say several sources I trust.
May we talk to the sources? I'm sure that the net would appreciate
more info on the problem.
You are welcome to continue using fn 37 with its
undocumented features. My apologies for bringing up the
subject.
I really ought to know better by now.
Yup, you're right. We've argued before Jerry, and we've never gotten
anywhere but flaming.
Cheers,
Tony ;-)Tli%usc-eclb@sri-unix.UUCP (01/21/84)
From: Tony Li <Tli@usc-eclb> Hi, You requested someone from DRI? As far as I know, I'm the only one from DRI who is on ARPA at all, much less reading Info-Cpm. Anyhow, despite what Jerry Pournelle has to say, I know nothing of a BDOS bug in function 37. Now, you should realize that I'm probably not the best person to ask. I'm a summer intern at DRI, and as such, don't deal with CP/M-80 to any extent. So if there is a bug, there is a VERY good chance that I wouldn't know about it. A better idea: Is there anyone who reads this list who works for an OEM who buys stuff from DRI? If so, said person could holler at his sales rep/tech support person from DRI. If this doesn't work, I do have some alternate methods for getting an exact answer, but they're somewhat rash, and I'm reluctant to use them. Cheers, Tony Li ;-) Software Engineer Systems Software Group Digital Research Inc. aka Tony Li <Tli@Usc-Eclb> Univ. of Southern Ca.
POURNE%mit-mc@sri-unix.UUCP (01/23/84)
From: Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE@mit-mc> Please continue to use the feature.