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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84 chuqui version 1.7 9/23/84; site nsc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!cbosgd!ihnp4!nsc!chuqui
From: chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Cheshire Chuqui)
Newsgroups: net.news.group
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <1976@nsc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Dec-84 03:52:37 EST
Article-I.D.: nsc.1976
Posted: Wed Dec  5 03:52:37 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Dec-84 03:56:38 EST
Organization: Plaid Heaven
Lines: 51

References <1830@inmet.UUCP> <900002@uokmet.UUCP>
Reply-To: chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Cheshire Chuqui)
Distribution: 
Organization: Plaid Heaven
Keywords:
Summary:

 
>Subject: net.unix* split: Sup-optimal interactions with notes and UNIX
>
>>    net.unix-wizards.kernel - kernel esoterica
>>    net.unix-wizards.drivers - device drivers problems/operations
>>	
>>    Many (all?) implementations of the notesfile software require all
>>    news group names to be no longer than 14 characters.
>>    
>>    FLAME RETARDANT ATTEMPT
>>    ----- --------- -------
>>    
>>    Yes, the notes software could be modified.
>
>The maximum length permitted for a file name on 2.8 and 2.9 BSD is
>14 characters.
>
>The idea of various sub "net.unix" groups is a good idea though...

One major factor in the design of new releases of software is compatibility
with previous releases, simply because it is hard to get people to upgrade.
As time goes on, this seems to be creating more and more problems for the
people who ARE willing to upgrade as well as putting rather
arbitrary/historical restrictions. Perhaps it is time for us to make a
decision to be willing to make non-compatible upgrades and either figuring
out some way of converting to old sites or simply cutting them off if they
won't upgrade. 

It WOULD be nice to get rid of all of those sites running ugly notes (the
ones that ignore things like standards), A news, and anything before about
2.10.1, but the only way I see us doing it is by giving those sites the
choice of either upgrading or getting out. Politically, this is a very
sensitive/painful decision either way-- we either rip up the net with new
software, or we take the chance of crippling it with old software.

I'm not sure I want to touch this one... comments?

chuq
-- 
From the center of a Plaid pentagram:		Chuq Von Rospach
{cbosgd,decwrl,fortune,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo}!nsc!chuqui  nsc!chuqui@decwrl.ARPA

  ~But you know, monsieur, that as long as she wears the claw of the dragon
  upon her breast you can do nothing-- her soul belongs to me!~