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From: wilkes@beatnix..UUCP (John Wilkes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Pattern Matching & documentation
Message-ID: <179@elxsi.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 12-Dec-86 17:12:09 EST
Article-I.D.: elxsi.179
Posted: Fri Dec 12 17:12:09 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Dec-86 01:59:22 EST
References: <954@blia.BLI.COM> <1731@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender: nobody@elxsi.UUCP
Reply-To: wilkes@beatnix.UUCP (John Wilkes)
Organization: ELXSI Super Computers, San Jose
Lines: 26

In article <4421@ut-ngp.UUCP> mic@ngp.UUCP (Mic Kaczmarczik) writes:
[lots of stuff...]
>to VMS, TOPS-20 programs invoke a subroutine library to parse command
>lines an item at a time.
[more stuff]

Actually, Tops-20 had a system call (the COMND% JSYS) to handle parsing,
not a subroutine library.  For my money, this is the best command parser
ever invented.  I especially like the command recognition and completion
features.  Filename completion is essential when filenames longer than six
or seven characters are allowed.  BTW, Tops-20 system calls also understood
the wildcard conventions; wildcards are not expanded by the Tops-20 Exec
(command parser).

I spent a little time trying to convert the Kermit parser to Manx (without
success), and I've had fantasies about putting Kermit's Tops-20 parser
into an Amiga library or device.  I'll do that in my abundant spare time,
I guess ;-).


-- John Wilkes --    UUCP: {ihnp4|decwrl|pyramid}!sun!elxsi!beatnix!wilkes
                     USPS: ELXSI, 2334 Lundy Pl., San Jose CA 95131

# My Employer appologizes for the fact that I have access to the network. 
# Furthermore, my Employer has absolutely no responsibility for the above
# random ramblings, which are clearly the product of a deranged mind.