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 Harlickeryaml%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. *
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* 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$) prices
below by check or money order and send your order to:
Portable Modula-2 Library
JLB Enterprises
PO Box 148
Ardmore, PA 19003
USA
-------------------------- C U T H E R E ------------------------------
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In case of problems with your order, we would like to have:
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Price Per Item Description of Items
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|
25 US$ | 50 SFr 1600 bpi Unix tar tape
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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
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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.
|
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| The LaTeX source for the manual is provided
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