[comp.sys.apple2] Vote YES on comp.sources.apple2

jac@paul.rutgers.edu (Jonathan A. Chandross) (07/18/90)

I would be much happier if Bakal could have restricted himself
to posting his opinions during the discussion period when they
were appropriate.  Waiting for the call for votes is really in
poor taste.

Tabakal@UB.CC.UMICH.EDU
> As someone involved in the distribution
> of apple ][ pd/shareware, it's enough to have to deal with the
> sources we have now (mainly apple for notes, nosc for beta kermits,
> comp.binaries.apple2, apple2-L, as well as visiting the various
> other FTP sites to see what we've missed earlier).

Say what?  You got *too* much software so you want to cut down on
anything that will produce *more*?  How do you answer all the people
who complain that developers won't write for the Apple // -- "That's
ok, we have too much software already."

Nobody *forces* you to read/use sources.  Ignore them if you want,
but don't restrict others who *want* this information.

> I personally do not get comp.sources.* and would probably miss 
> a good deal of stuff if it came in.

Ahhhh, the truth comes out.  You don't get the group so you don't
want anyone else to.  Did you ever consider that you can update
your feed to get only the groups you want?  You don't have to take
the whole hierarchy, you know.  If you get comp.sys.apple2 and
comp.binaries.apple2 I suspect you wouldn't have any trouble
adding comp.sources.apple2.  Why not ask you sysadmin before you
complain that "my site doesn't get the sources groups so I don't
want a new group."

> Generally, sources are *larger* than executables, so I do not
> think that removing them from the binaries will make them
> more accessible.

Say what?  Sources are generally smaller, since they don't have
libraries, are at a much higher level, etc. than a binary.

The issue is not removing them from the binaries because of their
size, but because SOURCES ARE NOT BINARIES.  SOURCES ARE NOT OBJECT
CODE.  That's why they don't belong in a binaries group.

Findally, if the binaries groups are such a great place for sources,
why don't we see more sources there?  Because they don't belong.  Pure
and simple.  The current setup does not encourage distribution of
Apple // sources.  If it did we would see them.

> If anything, it may lead system administrators
> to remove comp.sources.apple2 from sites, thus restricting rather
> than expanding their distribution.

Are you kidding?  If volume was a problem, comp.sys.apple2 would have
been deleted long ago.  What do you base this assumption on, anyway.

> Providing more and better resources is a excellent goal for the
> online "net" community, but I fear that comp.sources.apple2 will
> merely detract from substance in order to better fit the usenet
> naming protocol.

What is the point of this?  The substance is SOURCE to Apple //
programs.  That surely fits in with the newsgroup guidlines.


Jonathan A. Chandross
Internet: jac@paul.rutgers.edu
UUCP: rutgers!paul.rutgers.edu!jac

shankar@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Subash Shankar) (07/22/90)

Tabakal@UB.CC.UMICH.EDU

> I personally do not get comp.sources.* and would probably miss 
> a good deal of stuff if it came in.

So, you're not any worse off either with or without comp.sources.apple2.
As it is, I haven't seen very many sources (heck, I haven't seen any in the
last six months) in comp.sources.apple2.  Obviously, people feel it
inappropriate group to post sources (IMHO, they are correct), so at least let
those who will get comp.sources.* have access to sources.

> If anything, it may lead system administrators
> to remove comp.sources.apple2 from sites, thus restricting rather
> than expanding their distribution.

Every other computer has a comp.sources group, and it hasn't seemed to have
caused much trouble for them.  Chances are, any administrator who is worried
about volume will either delete the whole comp.sources hierarchy or keep them
all.  The Apple is only one of about 5 major lines, and it is unlikely to
affect any decisions by system administrators.  

Vote Yes!!!
---
Subash Shankar             Honeywell Systems & Research Center MN65-2100
voice: (612) 782 7558      US Snail: 3660 Technology Dr., Minneapolis, MN 55418
shankar@src.honeywell.com  srcsip!shankar