nagler%olsen@unizh.UUCP (Robert Nagler) (09/05/88)
We have an ~80 module M2 library which we are going to release to the public domain within the next few weeks. I have several questions which will help me get the library ready for release. Please respond to me directly (I will acknowledge receipt). If you would like to know a bit about the library before answering these questions, I have included a short description at the end of this note. 1. Is anyone interested in the library? Are you interested in being a beta test site? 2. How would you like the library distributed? Source only? Separate binary and source distributions? All the modules in one directory? We have an added complication that the library must be preprocessed before it is compiled. This doubles the number of sources files. (You need to keep both copies around if you want to debug the library.) Do you want our test programs? 3. We have quite an extensive manual. The text formatter we use is Latex. Will this be a problem? (Note: the definition modules are well commented so the need for a manual is not as great as with other libraries.) Thanx for any responses, Rob Nagler olsen!nagler@uunet.uu.net Olsen & Associates Seefeldstrasse 233 CH-8008 Zuerich ---------------------------------------------------------------- The following is a list of the general module groupings. o Binary (direct) I/O o Text I/O o List Managment o String Conversions and Manipulations o High-level Memory Mgmt o Debugging Facilities o Debugging Facilities o Light-weight processes o Screen (Terminal) I/O o M2 Preprocessor (statement control only) o Portable Types & Consts o Directory Facilities o Random Numbers o I/O Name Space Manips o Memory Ops o Formatted I/O (a la Fortran & C) o Configuration Files o Centralized Error Handling Facilities o Program Arguments & Environment o Compiler ``Extensions'' such as 32 bit cardinals for the PC The library currently runs with Logitech/86 2.0 & 3.0 on IBM-PCs/DOS 2.X & 3.X and Sun M2 2.0 on Sun-3s/OS 3.X. It will probably port to Sun 4.0 fairly as well as Sun-2s and Sun-4s. We expect that the library will port to other systems (VAX, Mac, Atari, etc.) fairly easily. If you have a TOPS-20 machine the confusion between BYTE and WORD might make things messy, but we have even tried to take these dinosaurs into account. Applications which are written with the library as the sole operating system interface will most certainly port to any system to which the library can be ported. If you are writing larger scale applications, you may find the library quite useful. If you want to write the ``cat'' or ``type'' program, it's easy but may be a little bulky compared with the versions supplied with the operating system. We use it in our distributed information system and for many tools such as a M2 Dependency Generator, a M2 Preprocessor, and a Bitmap Editor. The name of this library might be YAML and if you feel that way, so be it. However, we are distributing it to help people in any way possible. You may use a part or the whole thing. The I/O modules are layered and integrated (yes, even ScreenIO), but there are many other standalone modules such as ProgArgs, ProgEnviron, NameLists, Objects, etc. which are not provided by any proposals know to me. If nothing else, the library can serve as an alternative approach to programming in M2.
NU111414@NDSUVM1.BITNET (09/19/88)
I would like to see the modules. Since I write my code using Benchmark Modula-2 for the Amiga, I would need source code. I also would need the manual to be written in standard ascii. Thank you for your generousity. Yours Truly, Ryan Harlicker
yaml%olsen@unizh.UUCP (M2 Portable Library) (10/13/88)
The free M2 library (mentioned in a previous message) is ready for distribution. The order form is included at the end of this note. You must send the order form by physical mail, because you have to send us money to cover our costs. Some details. The library o is 5 megabytes of source, makefiles, and documentation. o is freeware which means we hold a copyright, but it is freely distrib- utable and usable (copyright is a mixture between that of X and GNU). o includes a 170 page manual covering the library and some other things which you may find useful. o includes a couple of examples and (approx) 70 test programs. o includes a M2 preprocessor. We provide a "mini-library" to help you port the preprocessor to new systems. o includes a public domain "make" program (may be a bit out of date, but it seems to work). o includes a dependency generator for "make". o includes tools for debugging M2 on the Sun with dbx. o contains X11 def mods for Sun M2 (only partially tested). If you have questions, we'll be happy to answer them. Please mail to: mcvax!cernvax!unizh!olsen!yaml@uunet.uu.net or olsen!yaml@uunet.uu.net or to one of the addresses in the order form below. ************************************************************************** * Copyright 1988 by Olsen & Associates (O&A), Zurich, Switzerland. * * * * All Rights Reserved * * * * Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its * * documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, * * provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies, and * * that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in * * supporting documentation, and that all modifications of this software * * or its documentation not made by O&A or its agents are accompanied * * by a prominent notice stating who made the modifications and the date * * of the modifications. * * * * O&A DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE AND ITS * * DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND * * FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL O&A BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR * * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF * * USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR * * OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR * * PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION. * ************************************************************************** Olsen & Associates Portable Modula-2 Library Version 1.0 (October 1988) Order Form To obtain a copy of this software, you may simply copy it from a friend or fill out the order form below and, at your option, the questionnaire which follows. Olsen & Associates is not in the business of software distribution, therefore we kindly request that you do not submit orders for more than 1 copy of any item below. If you need more copies, please make them yourself. For orders outside North America, please pay the Swiss Franc (SFr) prices below by check or money order and send your order to: Portable Modula-2 Library Olsen & Associates Seefeldstrasse 233 CH-8008 Zurich Switzerland Within North America, please pay the United States Dollar (US$) prices below by check or money order and send your order to: Portable Modula-2 Library JLB Enterprises PO Box 148 Ardmore, PA 19003 USA -------------------------- C U T H E R E ------------------------------ Name _________________________________________________________ Company Name _________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ In case of problems with your order, we would like to have: Telephone _________________________________________________________ Electronic Mail Address _________________________________________________ Price Per Item Description of Items US Orders | Elsewhere | 25 US$ | 50 SFr 1600 bpi Unix tar tape | 50 US$ | 100 SFr 1/4" Cartridge QIC-24 Unix tar tape | 30 US$ | 60 SFr 96 TPI (HD) PC-DOS (2.0+) floppy disks | 5 US$ | 10 SFr BINARY ONLY floppy available for Logitech 3.00 | This item is only available as an add on to one | of the above source distributions. | 20 US$ | 60 SFr Manual: printed on an Apple Laser Writer | The LaTeX source for the manual is provided | on the source tapes and floppies. | N/A |________SFr Outside Europe and U.S. add 20 SFr PER ITEM | (except BINARY ONLY) for shipping. | ========================================================================= ______________________ Total cost of items requested plus any additional shipping charges. Please indicate the currency. IMPORTANT: Please circle the price of the items you want, so we know what to send you! OPTIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE 1. Are you interested in receiving information about updates? _________ 2. Are you going to port the library to another system? _________ If yes, please fill out the information below: Architecture: __________________________________________________ Operating System: __________________________________________________ Compiler: __________________________________________________ Will you send us a copy of the ported version? _________ 3. Have you worked with other Modula-2 libraries? _________ If yes, please list them below concisely: ____________________________________________________________________ 4. Can we give your name as a source for copies of the library? _______ 5. Can we give your name as someone who would help people with the library (for installation or otherwise)? ________ 6. Any other comments, suggestions, opinions, etc.?