rharwood@east.pima.edu (04/25/91)
I know that many Ada devotees are well connected in the electronic worlds of InterNet, BitNet, DDN, or related government/research/education network. (Just look at the electronic addresses in AdaIC Newsletter or SIGAda's Ada Letters!) Many others are unable to access these networks for one reason or another, yet they still have a need or desire to retrieve or share information with fellow Ada enthusiasts. My basic question is this: What chance of success would an Ada Forum have on a pay-for-access network like CompuServe? Computer Langauge Magazine already has a forum with a sub-board devoted to Ada, but it doesn't receive any individual publicity (you basically have to know it's there or specifically ask to "FIND Ada"). There's a fairly small group of people accessing the Ada sub-board on a weekly basis (at $6-$12 an hour, you can't waste much time there!). It could never replace INFO-ADA or comp.lang.ada (depending on your access method here), but it could broaden Ada's accessibility to EVERYONE. I've talked informally with CompuServe folks about several possibilities, but before I invest a lot of time and effort, I'd like your opinions/suggestions. Please EMail directly either here or on CIS, and I'll summarize the responses. ----- Ray Harwood |Data Basix |Associate Faculty, Voice: (602)721-1988 |PO Box 18324 | Pima Community College FAX: (602)721-7240 |Tucson, AZ 85731 |Instructor in Ada and Pascal CompuServe: 76645,1370|AppleLink: DATA.BASIX|Internet: rharwood@east.pima.edu
case@shamash.cdc.com (Steven V. Case) (04/27/91)
In article <1991Apr25.095243.1@east.pima.edu>, rharwood@east.pima.edu writes: > My basic question is this: What chance of success would an Ada Forum have on > a pay-for-access network like CompuServe? > access method here), but it could broaden Ada's accessibility to EVERYONE. One of the pay-for-access services that I regularly access is BIX (BYTE Information Exchange, or something like that). It is affiliated with BYTE magazine. There is a somewhat active Ada conference, and the JANUS/Ada conference also provides some good information (don't worry, it isn't simply a conference for selling JANUS/Ada). Although the amount of traffic does not equal the amount of traffic on 'comp.lang.ada' (aka INFO-ADA), it is still insightful and has several knowledgable contributors. BIX tends to be much more technology oriented then Compuserve, and certainly is not as big. Like Compuserve, it can be expensive. If you pay for your access on an hourly basis, the rates are comparable. However, you can buy unlimited, off-peak access for $156 per year, billed quarterly. You still have to pay Tymnet charges unless you dial directly into BIX (they do have 9600 baud access), and you can get a flat-rate Tymnet account at $20 per month. You can call 1-800-227-2983 to get more information. Or look for some of their ads in any of the BYTE magazines. Regards, Steve -- ____ ____ Steve Case - HQG526 email: case@shamash.cdc.com / ___||___ \ Control Data Corporation AT&T : (612) 853-3345 | |___ ___| | 3101 East 80th Street \____||____/ Bloomington, MN 55425
rharwood@east.pima.edu (05/05/91)
Regarding a posting I made mid-April: "Possible Ada Forum on CompuServe", I received several direct replies indicating interest. This message is a summary of responses and EMails I have received regarding the subject. (1) Several of you indicated a willingness to help in the day-to-day operation of the Forum, and I have established a small mailing-list to keep those seriously interested up-to-date on a routine (biweekly or so?) basis. Anyone still interested in following the development of such a capability, please feel free to EMail your interest. (2) There are TWO existing sub-boards on CIS with Ada interest: CLMFORUM, from the folks at Computer Language magazine; and CODEPORT, a section dealing with code portability issues (I forget who the actual "host" organization is). CLMFORUM has between 20-50 messages a week depending on the "hot topics", but I checked into the CODEPORT forum this week and found no (new) messages since April 15. (3) (Quoting one an EMail from schweige@taurus.cs.nps.navy.mil): The Ada sections on Bix have a little bit more participation. Notably active is Randy Brukhardt of RR Software (makers of Janus Ada compilers). There are also customer service forums on Bix for Janus Ada (presently active) and Meridian (presently inactive). It's quite possible that a properly run Ada forum might be a modest success on CompuServe, given the right libraries and message bases. (4) In case you're not aware, most (if not all) SysOps get a "free connect" userid... that's a good incentive to offer some assistance, IMHO! (5) Before CIS will grant a new Forum, the following things must be demonstrated (a) an active, or potentially active, user base, (b) reliable sources of downloadable files and future related information, (c) a willing network of assistants with interest and expertise, and (d) some way of marketing the service to the outside world. I'm reasonably sure that (a) & (b) are EASILY met. Responses so far indicate that (c) is probably an easy thing... and I think that there are enough places that a CIS Ada Forum can be "hyped" as a resource (as opposed to commercially advertised!) to make it fairly workable for (d). (AdaIC, Ada Letters, here, and perhaps some sneaky mentions at trade fairs, seminars, etc.) (6) Several folks indicated they'd like an alternative to the often-slow Ada Sofwtare Repository on SIMTEL20 (and other similar DDN/InterNet sites). My response: Much of the stuff on Simtel20 is too big to keep "lying around" on CompuServe, but if the CIS-Ada thing "takes off", I'd consider having a "mail-out" service where, for a minimal cost, one could request certain file-sets from my own archives... (7) Another thought: since the sheer volume of Ada code will grow enormously (there's already over 80MB on simtel20 alone), I'm evaluating a "cost per disk/tape" strategy that might let me invest in one of the new-fangled optical disk systems that will store 500MB+... that way I can archive just about any public domain code, and ZIP it onto PC disks or whatever... there's a zillion possibilities (+/- 5%). (8) A personal planning goal: I'd like to have a fully operational CIS Ada Forum by Tri-Ada '91 in October. My apologies in advance if I've misquoted (mis-summarized?) anyone! Future announcements of real importance will be sent to this list, but routine notices will be sent only to those requesting to be on a mailing list. Thanks, everyone, for your interest and input! ----- Ray Harwood |Data Basix |Associate Faculty, Voice: (602)721-1988 |PO Box 18324 | Pima Community College FAX: (602)721-7240 |Tucson, AZ 85731 |Instructor in Ada and Pascal CompuServe: 76645,1370|AppleLink: DATA.BASIX|Internet: rharwood@east.pima.edu
rgc@raybed2.msd.ray.com (RICK CARLE) (05/06/91)
In article <1991May4.173121.1@east.pima.edu>, rharwood@east.pima.edu writes: > Regarding a posting I made mid-April: "Possible Ada Forum on CompuServe"... > ... Before CIS will grant a new Forum, the following things must be > demonstrated (a) an active, or potentially active, user base... If compuserve had an Ada forum, I'd consider subscribing. (How much would that set me back, I wonder? I'd probably have to disguise payments...hide them from my wife...pay with laundered money from a numbered Swiss account.)