peter@sugar.UUCP (Peter da Silva) (01/12/88)
One problem with the Amiga, as I see it, is a proliferation of name-spaces.
Before adding another one, how about looking at the alternatives.
Standard AmigaDOS device names: apparently out, though I think it should be
considered a little more before discarding it.
Standard Exec device names: apparently out, since people seem to feel it's
too great a burden to pass a string like "fredmodem.device/0" to programs
to tell them where their modem ports are.
A new nameserver for device names, plus some kludge to change where
serial.device currently points: I don't like this, because it's new.
Aztec/ARP environment: hasn't been considered. That "fredmodem.device/0"
string COULD be used. You just "setenv MODEM device/unit", and have programs
look there. If they don't find it there they can default to "serial.device/0".
Named ports: another nameserver. Just do a FindPort("modem") and assume that
what you get is the modem port opened the way the user wants it. You'd have
to have a "setmodem" program that opens the port and sticks it in the list.
That would be pretty versatile, 'cos the user could just have a program in
there set up ahead of time to do mapping, etc.
A named port handler also sounds like a neat project for people wanting to
do a device but put off by the complexity. Sort of like a PTY.
--
-- Peter da Silva `-_-' ...!hoptoad!academ!uhnix1!sugar!peter
-- Disclaimer: These U aren't mere opinions... these are *values*.