bobd@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Bob Debula) (02/27/90)
*Sigh* Please don't flame me for this, but there are those in our organization who want to know if there are any "user friendly" shells for UNIX (be they Public Domain or commercial). I personally like UNIX just fine, but the specific interest is in VMS look alikes for UNIX. Any pointers to "user friendly" shells (vms or non-vms; commercial or Public Domain) would be greatly appreciated. Next I'll probably be out searching for "CP/M or MS/DOS like shells"; It's depressing :-( ========================================================================== Bob DeBula | Internet: bobd@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu The Ohio State University | Disclaimer: These are my views, not the U's Davros sez: When my Daleks compute they use X-TER-MI-NALS!
gwyn@smoke.BRL.MIL (Doug Gwyn) (02/27/90)
In article <811@nisca.ircc.ohio-state.edu> bobd@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu writes: -... who want to know if there are any "user friendly" shells for UNIX ... These days you find that mostly in Graphical User Interfaces; previously there has been at least one commercial "visual shell" for character-cell CRTs, under the name "vsh" as I recall. Amazingly, I've been told that some users actually like to use the "Adventure shell" that I published some years ago. If you want a copy send me e-mail <Gwyn@BRL.MIL>. Here is a sample session: Script started on Mon Feb 26 17:31:42 1990 $ ash You found a discarded empty knapsack. Welcome to the Adventure shell! Do you need instructions? yes Instructions for the Adventure shell Welcome to the Adventure shell! In this exploration of the UNIX file system, I will act as your eyes and hands. As you move around, I will describe whatever is visible and will carry out your commands. The general form of a command is Verb Object Extra_stuff. Most commands pay no attention to the "Extra_stuff", and many do not need an "Object". A typical command is get all which picks up all files in the current "room" (directory). You can find out what you are carrying by typing the command inventory The command "help" results in a full description of all commands that I understand. To quit the Adventure shell, type quit There are UNIX monsters lurking in the background. These are also known as "commands with arguments". Good luck! Type a newline to continue: You are in your own home. This room contains: typescript There are exits labeled: News bin as well as a passage overhead. There are shadowy figures in the corner. > help I understand the following commands (synonyms in parentheses): change OBJECT to NEW_NAME changes the name of the object clone OBJECT as NEW_NAME duplicates the object drop OBJECTS leaves the objects in the room enter (go) PASSAGE takes the labeled passage examine OBJECTS describes the objects in detail feed OBJECT to MONSTER stuffs the object into a UNIX monster get (take) OBJECTS picks up the specified objects gripe (bug) report a problem with the Adventure shell help prints this summary inventory (i) tells what you are carrying kill (destroy) OBJECTS destroys the objects look (l) describes the room, including hidden objects open (read) OBJECT shows the contents of an object quit (exit) leaves the Adventure shell resurrect OBJECTS attempts to restore dead objects steal OBJECT from MONSTER obtains the object from a UNIX monster throw OBJECT at daemon feeds the object to the printer daemon up takes the overhead passage wake MONSTER awakens a UNIX monster where (w) tells you where you are xyzzy moves you to your home > look The room contains: typescript .envX .logout .oldnewsrc .rnlast ..funcs .funcs .mpxrc .pnewsexpert .rnlock ..newsrc .history .myxban .profile .rnsoft .article .joverc .myxstart .rhosts .sendrc .dmdrc .layers .newsrc .rnhead .shbind .env .layersrc There are exits plainly labeled: News bin .knapsack .limbo and a passage directly overhead. > examine .rnhead Upon close inspection of the .rnhead, you see: -rw-r--r-- 1 gwyn vld 1187 Feb 26 17:23 .rnhead > steal data from echo ok mac The echo monster drops the data. > open data Opening the data reveals: ok mac > get data data: taken. > enter News You squeeze through the passage. You have entered /vld/gwyn/News. The room looks empty. There is a passage overhead. > drop data data: dropped. > clone data as foo Poof! When the smoke clears, you see the new foo. > get all data: taken. foo: taken. > inventory Your knapsack contains: foo data > drop foo foo: dropped. > kill foo The foo cannot defend himself; he dies. > look The room is empty. The only exit is directly overhead. > resurrect foo The foo staggers to his feet. > look The room contains: foo The only exit is directly overhead. > clone foo as bar Poof! When the smoke clears, you see the new bar. > throw foo at daemon The daemon catches the foo, turns it into paper, and leaves it in the basket. > feed foo to wc -l I see no foo here. > feed bar to wc -l 27 The wc monster devours your bar. > up You pull yourself up a level. You are in your own home. This room contains: typescript There are exits labeled: News bin as well as a passage overhead. There are shadowy figures in the corner. > quit Do you really want to quit now? y The contents of your knapsack will still be there next time. See you later! $ exit script done on Mon Feb 26 17:36:04 1990