edward@csvaxa.UUCP (Edward Wilkinson) (06/21/88)
Is there a version of Gnumacs which allows a remote Gnumacs to run in
conjunction with a local part? This would allow the local part to do
such simple things as self-insert-command, delete-backward-char, while
the remote part does things like byte-compile-file, load-file and
other more expensive tasks.
The main advantage with this is that a PC user could edit files with
fast response times for simple stuff which usually takes ages on a
highly loaded bigger machine. This approach could also work with
workstations.
Ideas? Or has this already been done? I know I'd prefer to use full
Gnumacs on my PC instead of some local subsubset of emacs which fits
into 640k or whatever.
--
Ed Wilkinson @ Computer Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ
uucp: {uunet,watmath!cantuar}!vuwcomp!csvaxa!edward DTE: 530163000005
Janet/Greybook: E.Wilkinson@nz.ac.massey Phone: +64 63 69099 x8587
CSnet/ACSnet/Internet: E.Wilkinson@massey.ac.nz New Zealand = GMT+12fin@UF.MSC.UMN.EDU (Craig Finseth) (06/24/88)
I experimeted some time ago with a version of Gnu-Emacs that had been modified to use the LEAP features in an Encore Annex terminal concentrator. The LEAP features offload the terminal operations (echoing, etc.). Although not exactly the same situation as you describe, it did lead me to propose a conjecture (additional testing may turn it into a theorem): Moving processing from a central, shared resource to a distributed, private resource results in lowering the average response time while increasing the standard deviation of the response time. In this particular case, I felt that the increase in standard deviation resulted in crossing a threshold which made performance poor enough that it could not be offset by the decrease in average response. In particular, when you went from typing to editing, the pause was long (compared to echoing) and you had the impression that you editing character (e.g., ^N, ^A) was ignored, causing you to type it again. To say the least, this behavior is annoying (see previous paragraph.) My advice: quit while you're ahead. Craig A. Finseth fin@uc.msc.umn.edu [CAF13] Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc. (612) 624-3375