Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!ihnp4!ihuxp!wbpesch From: wbpesch@ihuxp.UUCP (Walt Pesch) Newsgroups: net.news.group Subject: Re: net.cs proposal - (nf) Message-ID: <664@ihuxp.UUCP> Date: Mon, 5-Mar-84 15:17:01 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxp.664 Posted: Mon Mar 5 15:17:01 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 6-Mar-84 03:20:27 EST References: <971@inmet.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 79 It's time for the old foot in the mouth routine: a recent posting (inmet!tower) listed a few of the CS discussions that have occured in the path, and where they occured. From the tone of his article, I think that he meant the listing as evidence against the creation. Let us look at the examples he poses: >>> RISC has been discussed in: >>> net.arch Computer architecture. The discussion (and I have read old net.arch) dealt in the majority with the theory of RISC, not the RISC I chip, which would properly belong there. There was mostly posting on references to journals. But I will agree that this is appropiate for atleast a subset of the discussion. >>> Number theory has been discussed in: >>> net.math Mathematical discussions and puzzles But what about the Comp Sci applications... numerical analyses. Are we to cross-reference between net.math and net.arch if we are to discuss new hardware for on-board floating point error and the calculus behind such? >>> database design theory has been discussed in: >>> net.arch Computer architecture. Boy, this is a great one. I suppose you want to discuss the proper ways of mixing concrete in net.arch too. >>> generic data structures has been discussed in: >>> net.lang Different Computer Languages. See above. What if I want to discuss tree structures (something all netnews administrators should want to). Do I have to go to net.lang.ada? >>> Hamming Codes has been discussed in: >>> net.dcom Data Communication Hardware and Software Good match here, but how many people read this group? By the way, I could make a good arguement as to putting this in the all-encompassing net.arch, for architectures entail Hamming Codes in memory (or atleast parity bits.) >>> Robotics has been discussed in: >>> net.ai Artifical Intellligence From the application side? I really feel it is a misnomer to put AI and robotics under the same roof. (Though they may be on the same block in some cases.) >>> Queuing Theory has been discussed in: >>> net.math Mathematical discussions and puzzles Do they really want me to come in their and discuss the Mean Time to Failure of various computers systems and their integral parts? ------------- Well, where does this take us and what does this show. I see that we have here a variety of topics (pardon me but "Orphanned Topics") that do not comfortably fit in a given newsgroup, for they can also be considered either only a related topic or else a superset of the stated purpose of the newsgroup or else a gross misuse of the newsgroup. (Database theory in net.arch? PAH!) Once again, the critics give more evidence. The list above is nt comprehensive of what can be discussed in a generic computer science newsgroup. But it is representative. I still do feel that it also shows the necessity. A newsgroup today may save nine. (A generic newsgroup may stop the creation of many small limited and quickly-dying discussions.) Once again, thanks for your time. Walt Pesch AT&T Technologies ihnp4!ihuxp!wbpesch