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From: Terry Lambert <terry@lambert.org>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Ideal filesystem
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 16:54:25 -0700
Organization: Me
Lines: 86
Message-ID: <31797931.1736B8E7@lambert.org>
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Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.development.system:21661 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:17591
Adam Megacz wrote:
] Wouln't it be nice if Emacs and cat and tar and gzip worked on
] OS/2 EA's? But they don't. Since OS/2 is stupid in this regard,
] why does Linux have to be similarly stupid? Linux can offer
] backwards compatibility where OS/2 doesn't.
I am once again called upon to be Mr. Blunt:
DOS has backward compatability with 8088, 8086, and 80286
hardware which Linux lacks.
The hard reality is, that you must draw a line to be able to
advance. Linux and other OS's have advanced by drawing that
line at the 80386.
Backward compatability can be implemented... as a non-standard
add-in, to discourage use of compatability interfaces instead
of supported interfaces (compatability interfaces are exactly
what has screwed up NetWare and other OS's).
] > Seems like gratuitous complexity to pound a bunch of round pegs
] > into a square hole because you love your square hole and are
] > afraid to pull out the drill and Do The Right Thing...
]
] Proof by analogy is fraud. I'm not doing any "pounding".
Gee, lucky I didn't try to label that as a proof, then.
] Besides; what makes the Win95/OS2 way better?
You mean the OS/2 way. The "Win95 way" doesn't exist.
] My way offers backwards compatibility. What does yours offer?
Robustness. Backward compatability as a non-default option
to encourage new software to use modern interfaces instead
of sticking software in the "must run on first version ever
released" mud.
The ability to discard the compatability interfaces at some
future date instead of making them a maintenance hassle for
the rest of eternmity.
] My rule is "offer backwards compatibility whenever possible,
] except when doing so does impairs the quality of the final
] product."
Mine too. Allowing backward compatability considerations
to dictate design decisions on new code impairs the quality
of the final product.
] > "Inodes are cheap"?!? When did I say this?
]
] Terry, read my posting (above) carefully. I said "As was
] previously said". When did I ever mention YOU saying it?
] You're not the only one in this thread, you know.
I know... I was trying to make it clear that I vehemently
disagree with this statement, and that a design decision
made on this premise will be *strongly* opposed. The
statement about inodes is incorrect, no matter who said it.
] > No I *can't* edit the *existing* default icon with the *existing*
] > tools, becuase there is *no such thing* as a file system association
] > of a file with an icon to attribute it as the default icon for an
] > application.
]
] Which is EXACTLY why we need Extended Attributes. :-) Couldn't
] have put it better myself.
To make the association, not to grandfather the tools.
The tools can be grandfathered (if someone wants that) using
methods which do not impact the design or implementation. And
should be, if they are grandfathered at all.
Terry Lambert
terry@lambert.org
---
Any opinions in this posting are my own and not those of my present
or previous employers.