Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP 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!~