Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!brl-adm!adm!dsill@NSWC-OAS.arpa
From: dsill@NSWC-OAS.arpa (Dave Sill)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: Summary of Emacs csh alias replies
Message-ID: <10849@brl-adm.ARPA>
Date: 15 Dec 87 04:18:16 GMT
Sender: news@brl-adm.ARPA
Lines: 34

>} is Dave Sill
> is Barton Schaefer

>}Some suggested putting the if-then-
>}else in a file to be sourced by the alias.  This works, but requires
>}reading the file each time the alias is invoked, so I might as well
>}use a script.
>
>"Might as well use a script" ?!?!?
>
>For something as short as the 6 or 7 lines in the file in question, the
>major part of the overhead is NOT in reading the file, but in fork-execing a
>new shell which then has to read the file anyway.  Sourcing the file from the
>current shell will be MUCH faster than running a script.

You're right.  The fork/exec overhead *is* higher than the file I/O
overhead, but I still want to avoid both, if possible.  Your solution
requires reading the sourced file, a fork/exec of grep, and the use of
a temporary file.  There should be a more efficient way.  Probably the
best way to do this is to modify csh.   

>Furthermore, what do you think is going to happen when you issue a "%emacs"
>in the script?  There isn't any background job running under the script shell!

You're right again.  I guess I fell into the same trap that got those
who suggested piping "jobs" to grep.

======
The opinions expressed above are mine.

Willy Wonka: But don't ever forget what happened to the man who
	     suddenly got everything he ever wanted.
    Charlie: What's that?
      Willy: He lived happily ever after.