eho@clarity.Princeton.EDU (Eric Ho) (09/04/89)
Just wondering if it is a good idea to have a central site to maintain pointers information on where & how to obtain TeX related packages over Usenet -- ranging from where to obtain the various packages and how to paste them together to build a standard TeX system (this should include instructions on how to get the standard fonts & sty/tex files and the core stuff like web2c if you want to go the C route and basic things like postscript converters for LaserWriters & Imagen printers and previewers for popular window systems like X, SunView, NeWS (?) -- this is what I call a basic standard system, without the standard set of macro files (e.g. *.sty, *.tex, *.bst, ...etc..), a basic set of font files, postscript converters & previewers, TeX is close to useless). Then, that database should also include further pointer info on other packages outside the standard TeX system, like various sophiscated specail-effects packages and other bitmap inserts packages. I think that so long as the info is up-to-date and provide clear instructions on how to get various packages from various USENET sites and how to paste them together then this is a much more efficient route -- rather than burdening 1 site to store all the source or going thro' the slow tape distribution route (which at times may contain out-dated versions). What to others think about it ? -- Eric Ho Cognitive Science Lab., Princeton University voice = 609-987-2987 email = eho@confidence.princeton.edu 609-987-2819 (messages) eho@bogey.princeton.edu regards. -eric-