[comp.os.minix] Something I thought I would try

ncoverby@ndsuvax.UUCP (Glen Overby) (12/08/88)

As a self-appointed keeper of one of the Minix archives, as well as trying
to keep my own Minix system up-to-date with the fixes and features that come
across the network, I face a real software maintenance problem.  It's tough
to keep up with entropy.  This time around, I thought I would try something
different; a complete collection of changes.  In the past, I've saved each
posting in a separate file on the archive, with a name as descriptive as
possible.  On my own system, I have had a rather random collection of
changes applied to my system, and I've never really been happy with the
state of it.

I see the contributions from the net as falling into one of two categories:
Evolutionary and Mutations.  The Evolutionary changes do not modify the
system in significant ways, such as bug fixes.  These are also the changes
which I see as the most likely to be adopted in the next formal release of
Minix.  Mutations, on the other hand, come from the hacker worlds and may
make major changes to the system which could cause reliability problems but
do add significant features.

What I plan to do is make available on my archive server an (approximately)
monthly update of all files changed over the past month, as well as since
the base (Minix-PC 1.3) release.  I'll keep a log of all the changes made,
with credit to those who made them (mostly the From, Subject, and Message-ID
header lines, along with any other notes that the author makes in the
posting or I find in creating the new version).

I have my first collection of "evolutionary" changes on ndsuvm1.bitnet /
vm1.nodak.edu with the file names "FIXES EV1188[A-F]".  Please refer to the
archives section of the Minix Information Sheet I posted a few days ago for
instructions on accessing this archive site. I am very interested in hearing
opinions on how worthwhile the collection of changes is over random
individual changes.  Whether I continue this on a regular basis will depend
on the responses I get.  Any other constructive criticism is also welcomed.
--
Glen Overby     ncoverby@plains.nodak.edu
uunet!ndsuvax!ncoverby                  ncoverby@ndsuvax (Bitnet)



#! rnews  

nick@nswitgould.OZ (Nick Andrew) (12/14/88)

in article <1939@ndsuvax.UUCP>, ncoverby@ndsuvax.UUCP (Glen Overby) says:

> As a self-appointed keeper of one of the Minix archives, as well as trying
> to keep my own Minix system up-to-date with the fixes and features that come
> across the network, I face a real software maintenance problem.  It's tough
> to keep up with entropy.  This time around, I thought I would try something
> different; a complete collection of changes.  In the past, I've saved each
> posting in a separate file on the archive, with a name as descriptive as
> possible.  On my own system, I have had a rather random collection of
> changes applied to my system, and I've never really been happy with the
> state of it.

> I am very interested in hearing
> opinions on how worthwhile the collection of changes is over random
> individual changes.  Whether I continue this on a regular basis will depend
> on the responses I get.  Any other constructive criticism is also welcomed.

	The format I use may be of use to you. I have created a file
containing a complete (?) list of changes between 1.3b and 1.3c. This file
only covers official changes, and only between two minor versions, yet
it is quite long. I used this file as a cookbook for upgrading my Minix.

Expansion of the format could cover unofficial changes also.

The file format needs no explanation. Here is the data:

amoeba		install		1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
amoeba		makefile	1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
amoeba/kernel	dp8390stat.h	1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
amoeba/kernel	dp8390stat.h	1540@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
amoeba/kernel	makefile	1456@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
amoeba/util	master.c	1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	animals.c	1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
commands	ar.c		1536@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	ast.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	at.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	banner.c	1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
commands	cc.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	cdiff.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	cdiff.c		1664@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	chgrp.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	chgrp.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	chmod.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	chown.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	clr.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	compress.c	1494@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	cp.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	cpdir.c		1432@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	crc.c		1443@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
commands	date.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	df.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	diskcheck.c	1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	diskcheck.c	1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	dosread.c	1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	ed.c		1481@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	factor.c	1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	fgrep.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	file.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	getlf.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	help.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
commands	libupack.c	1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	login.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	lorder.c	1536@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	ls.c		1433@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	makefile	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	makefile	1542@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	more.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	mount.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	mv.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	nm.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	paste.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	paste.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	pr.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	pwd.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	readall.c	1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	readclock.c	1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
commands	readfs.c	1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	run		1542@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	sed.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	sed.c		1482@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	strings.c	1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	strip.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	stty.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	su.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	tar.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	term.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	termcap.c	1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	termcap.c	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	tset.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
commands	tsort.c		1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	tsort.c		1536@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	tty.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	tty.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	vol.c		1434@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
commands	vol.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	who.c		1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	who.c		1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	whoami.c	1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands	whoami.c	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	README		1629@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	dis.h		1469@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	disfp.c		1469@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	dishand.c	1469@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	dismain.c	1469@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	disrel.c	1470@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	distabs.c	1470@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/dis88	makefile	1470@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	ReadMe		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	check.c		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	h.h		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	input.c		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	macro.c		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	main.c		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	make.c		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	makefile	1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	reader.c	1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/make	rules.c		1471@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/mined	makefile	1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/mined	makefile	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	makefile	1472@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	sh.h		1472@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	sh1.c		1472@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	sh2.c		1472@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	sh3.c		1473@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	sh4.c		1473@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	sh5.c		1473@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
commands/sh	sh6.c		1473@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
doc		USER_GUIDE	1436@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
doc		elle.man	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
doc		elle.man	1505@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
doc		em.man		1650@ast.cs.vu.nl	part1
doc		em.man		1651@ast.cs.vu.nl	part2
doc		man_pages	1436@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
doc		net.man		1436@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
fs		at_makefile	1439@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
fs		inode.c		1439@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
fs		link.c		1439@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
fs		pc_makefile	1439@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
fs		read.c		1439@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
h		const.h		1437@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
h		sgtty.h		1437@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
include		assert.h	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
include		fcntl.h		1430@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
include		limits.h	1430@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
include		memory.h	1430@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
include		sgtty.h		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
include		sgtty.h		1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
include		string.h	1430@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
include		unistd.h	1430@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
include		utime.h		1430@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
include		utmp.h		1430@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		at_makefile	1440@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		at_makefile	1456@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		at_makefile	1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		at_wini.c	1440@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		bios_wini.c	1648@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		bios_wini.c	1661@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		bios_wini.c	1669@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		clock.c		1440@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		clock.c		1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		console.c	1440@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		console.c	1459@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		console.c	1499@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		console.c	1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		const.h		1440@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		const.h		1562@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		floppy.c	1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		glo.h		1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		glo.h		1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		glo.h		1648@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		glo.h		1661@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		klib88.s	1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		klib88.s	1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		klib88.s	1648@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		klib88.s	1661@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		main.c		1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		main.c		1648@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		main.c		1661@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		makefile	1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		memory.c	1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		mpx88.s		1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		pc_makefile	1456@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		pc_makefile	1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		printer.c	1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		proc.c		1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		proc.c		1456@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		ps_wini.c	1441@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		rs232.c		1442@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		rs232.c		1499@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		rs232.c		1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		system.c	1456@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		table.c		1442@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		tty.c		1442@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
kernel		tty.c		1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		tty.h		1442@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		tty.h		1517@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
kernel		ttymaps.h	1442@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
kernel		xt_wini.c	1479@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		READ_ME		1542@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		bcmp.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		brksize.s	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		bsearch.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		bzero.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		catchsig.s	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		ctermid.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		ctime.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		cuserid.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		doprintf.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		execlp.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		ffs.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		fgetc.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		fopen.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		fputc.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		getc.c		1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		getcwd.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		getenv.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		getgrent.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		getlogin.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		getpass.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		getutil.s	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		lsearch.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		memccpy.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		memchr.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		memcmp.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		memcpy.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		memset.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		portio.s	1456@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		putc.c		1475@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		regexp.c	1480@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		run		1542@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		scanf.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		sendrec.s	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		setjmp.s	1495@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		signal.c	1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib		strchr.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		strcspn.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		strpbrk.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		strrchr.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		strspn.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		strstr.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		strtok.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		swab.c		1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib		termcap.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
lib		ttyname.c	1431@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
lib/IBM_PC	brksize.s	1478@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib/IBM_PC	catchsig.s	1478@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib/IBM_PC	getutil.s	1478@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib/IBM_PC	sendrec.s	1478@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
lib/IBM_PC	setjmp.s	1478@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
mm		at_makefile	1438@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
mm		exec.c		1438@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
mm		forkexit.c	1438@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
mm		pc_makefile	1438@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
mm		signal.c	1438@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
test		test0.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
test		test10.c	1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
test		test11.c	1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
test		test4.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
test		test5.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
test		test8.c		1476@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		at_makefile	1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		bootblok.s	1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		bootblok.s	1497@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		bootblok.s	1498@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
tools		build.c		1477@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		changemem	1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
tools		changemem	1456@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		fsck.c		1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
tools		fsck.c		1535@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		group		1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
tools		init.c		1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
tools		init.c		1477@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		message		1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	cdif
tools		mkfs.c		1477@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		passwd		1629@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		pc_makefile	1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		profile		1629@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		rc		1629@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		ttys		1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
tools		ttytype		1435@ast.cs.vu.nl	new
usr/lib		termcap		1448@ast.cs.vu.nl	rep
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