phil@rice.edu (William LeFebvre) (01/27/89)
I propose the creation of a new newsgroup: comp.sources.sun.
The purpose of this newsgroup will be to distribute sources for programs
that are specific to the Sun Microsystems line of computers. It is
intended to include sources for SunView "tools" and (for the time being)
NeWS applications, as well as other programs that are unique to the Sun
computer (for whatever reason).
I propose that this group be moderated, especially since I already have a
volunteer for the task: Charles McGrew <mcgrew@topaz.rutgers.edu>.
Currently Sun-specific sources are being submitted to sun-spots (sometimes
via a posting to the moderated group comp.sys.sun), then archived at Rice,
announced in sun-spots/comp.sys.sun, and made available via anonymous FTP
and the archive server at Rice. Sun-specific sources are also distributed
via comp.sources.misc (or so I understand). Distributing sources via the
Rice archive server has proven to be less than optimal. A case in point:
I announced the availability of a new release of the "fig" program. This
program is distributed in 9 separate shar files. A day later there were
over 400 requests in the server's queue. After two days, there were
around 500 requests. Distributing sources (especially large sources) of
wide interest via an automatic mail-response system seems sub-optimal,
especially where "net bandwidth" is concerned, because many people along
similar paths may make separate requests. If these sources were
distributed in the same manner that other Usenet lists are distributed,
the net bandwidth would be minimized and the sources would be available
sooner.
My intent is to continue to maintain the archives for both sun-spots
(comp.sys.sun) and sun sources at Rice, but I do not have the time to
moderate two lists. I discussed this with sun-spots readers at the recent
Sun User Group conference, and Charles McGrew volunteered his services as
moderator.
I guess we now need to discuss this for a period of time and then vote on
it. Followups have been directed to news.groups. I will monitor that
list to read comments, make clarifications, and answer questions.
In summary:
the need is apparent---source is regularly sent in to sun-spots either
via direct mailing or a post to the moderated group comp.sys.sun
(I currently have over 1 megabyte of sources waiting to go out).
the traffic already exists---many people make requests of the archive
server whenever something new is announced; although this is not
exactly Usenet traffic, it does travel over the same wires.
there is no appropriate place for the traffic---although Rich Salz has
expressed willingness to carry sun-spots sources, both he and I
agree that it is not entirely appropriate (a SunView tool designed
to help someone create SunView tools, "tooltool", is not going to
interest the entire Unix community).
William LeFebvre
Sun-Spots moderator
Department of Computer Science
Rice University
<phil@Rice.edu>