Usenet 1994 October/usenetsourcesnewsgroupsinfomagicoctober1994disk2.iso/unix/volume17/index17.1

Internet Message Format | 1989-01-17 | 13.6 KB

Subject:  v17INF1:  Introduction to comp.sources.unix
Newsgroups: comp.sources.unix,comp.sources.d
Approved: [e-mail]

Submitted-by: [e-mail] (Rich Salz)
Posting-number: Volume 17, Info 1
Archive-name: index17.1

This is the first of two introductory articles about comp.sources.unix.
This one describes how to submit source to the newsgroup, where the
archive sites are, and how to contact them.  The companion articles lists
all previously-published sources.


I am always looking for suggestions on how to improve the usefulness
of the newsgroup, and can be contacted as listed below.
            -Rich $alz

--------------------
Subject: Submitting source for publication

Items intended for posting or queries and problem notes should be sent to
uunet!sources.  In Australia, Robert Elz is a "sub-moderator"; people
there can work with him ([e-mail]) to get postings out more easily.
I am looking for someone in Canada and someone in Europe to act as
similar sub-moderators.

If you want verification of arrival, so say in a cover note, or at the
beginning of your submission, if it is small.  I try to verify that a
program works, and if I can't get it to work, I may hold up posting it for
a while.  Please note that, except in rare cases, source without
documentation and a Makefile will not be published.

--------------------
Subject:  The structure of comp.sources.unix articles

Each posting in comp.sources.unix is called an "issue"; there are roughly 100
issues to a volume.  The division is arbitrary, and has varied greatly in
the past.  There are two types of articles in comp.sources.unix; sources
and "information postings."  They can be distinguished by the subject
line:
    Subject:  v07INF8:  Index for Volume 7 and other info
This first word in the title identifies this as the eighth info posting of
volume seven.  Similarly, the subject line shown below:
    Subject:  v07i081:  Public-domain Unix kernel
identifies this as the 81st source article in Volume 7.  Large sources are
broken up into smaller pieces, and have subject lines that look like
this:
    Subject:  v07i082:  System VI Source Distribution, Part03/08

The first few lines of an article are auxiliary headers that look like this:

    Submitted-by: [e-mail]
    Posting-number: Volume 7, Issue 82
    Archive-name: new-login
The "Submitted by" is the author of the program.  IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE SOURCES PUBLISHED IN COMP.SOURCES.UNIX, THIS IS THE PERSON TO CONTACT.
When possible, this address is in domain form, otherwise it is a UUCP bang
path relative to some major site such as "uunet."

The second line repeats the volume/issue information for the aide of NOTES
sites and automatic archiving programs.

The Archive-name is the "official" name of this source in the archive.  Large
postings will have names that look like this:
    Archive-name: patch2/Part01
Please try to use this name when requesting that sources be mailed to you.
Also, note that the "part number" given in the title, and the archive name
given in the auxiliary header need not be identical.


--------------------
Subject: Reporting and tracking bugs and patches to postings

You should probably subscribe to comp.sources.bugs.

Some of the larger postings have established channels for distributing
bug reports (e.g., Larry Wall posts patches in comp.sources.bugs; C News
has update bulletins there and in one of the news groups, etc.).  Others
are sort of "catch as catch can."

Sometimes, when new versions of previously-published software is available,
just patches are put out, usually in the form of shar files containing
input for the "patch" program, new files, etc.  Sometimes complete new
versions are put out.  Which method is used depends on the poster and
the moderator.

To report bugs, contact the person listed in the Submitted-to header.
Often there is a contact address in a README file, too.  I do not maintain
the sources I moderate, so don't send your bug reports to me.


--------------------
Subject: Becoming an archive site

If you collect comp.sources.unix postings and are willing and able to make
your collection available to other people, please let me know.  Benefits
include the undying gratitude of your colleagues, and a promise from me to
try to make sure you never lose an article.


--------------------
Subject: Accessing the archives

The complete archives are fairly large; an average volume is three to
four megabytes.

The French and European archives are coming along, and the one in England
is getting lots of traffic.  If a BITNET site is interested in acting
as a repository, I'd love to know about it.

When you request something before Volume 6, please make sure to be as
descriptive as possible as articles before then do not have official
names.  Matt Caprile has done a great amount of work in cleaning up
the index entries and old names, look for a notice here soon.

Some sites below will send tapes through the mail.  For those sites, send
a 1/2" mag tape WITH RETURN POSTAGE and RETURN MAILER.  Tapes without
postage or mailer will not be returned.  No other methods (COD, etc.) are
available; please don't ask.

At the present time, I do not have ready access to the archives, nor
the support of my employer to do this.  Please don't ask me for missing
issues, unless you are sure you are reporting a net-wide problem of
propogation.

--------------------
Subject: Contacting me

My name is Rich Salz (rhymes with balls), usually spelled with a
dollarsign for the S ($alz).  I am not the same as Rick Adams, who is
currently best known as the major force behind UUNET.  I have a guest
account on UUNET, which is where I do the moderating.  I can be reached
via electronic mail as uunet!rsalz, [e-mail].

I work at BBN.  This is unrelated to comp.sources.unix, except that if
something really critical comes up, you can call me at the office at
617-873-3290 (direct to my desk).  Try to avoid sending mail to
[e-mail], unless you really have to.


--------------------
Subject: Listing of archive sites in no particular order


1.  The Danish UNIX user group (DKUUG) is running a mail based archive
    service at diku, it is only available to EUnet users in Denmark because
    of accounting.  It features access to the latest EUUG tape distribution
    which includes sources from comp.sources.unix and comp.sources.games.
    Also some specially collected items like GNU emacs is available.
    To get in contact with this archive service, do:
         mail diku!archive
         Subject: help
    Archive mail enjoys a 100 % surcharge compared to ordinary mail.

    EUUG also provides a tape based archive service of sources collected
    from the network and other specilally collected products like the GNU
    Emacs, X windows, MH and UNIX|stat. These are also known as the
    Conference tapes.  Available media include 9 track 1/2 inch 1600 fpi
    2400 ft, and some QIC formats. Contact EUUG, Owles Hall, Buntingford,
    Herts, SG9 9PL, England, or Frank Kuiper, CWI, Kruislaan 413, NL-1098
    SJ Amsterdam, the Netherlands for further information. Frank can also
    be reached as [e-mail] .

2.  Lee McLoughlin and Stuart McRoberts of the Department of Computing,
    Imperial College, London have set up an FTP and mail based server for
    UK sites.  All volumes are online, some may be in compressed form.
    For information about the mail based server mail to
    [e-mail] with a message body of:
    request catalogue
    topic comp.sources.unix
    request end
    They also store most of the GNU software, X windows, minix updates,
    uupc and most other software deemed useful by the management.  Mail
    the info-server with a topic line of:
    topic index
    for futher details.  For reasons of cost access is limited to UK users
    only.

3.  Ron Heiby has set up an anonymous UUCP access site.  If there is enough
    interest, I will post his full note, but for now I am just giving the
    summary info.  The machine is "mcdch1" which has a single 1200bps
    modem at 1-312-576-7902.  Send an initial carraige return, then log in
    with the name "pduucp" and password "public".  This will not work from
    8am to 6pm Chicago time Monday through Friday, so we can get our real
    work done.  The first thing you will want to do is pick up the
    detailed instructions and a list of what is available.
        uucp mcdch1!~/howto.snarf !~/MYNAME/
        uucp mcdch1!~/directory !~/MYNAME/
    Do not use full pathnames or wildcards; they will not work.
    The Systems file entry for doing this looks something like:
    (For HoneyDanBer UUCP (BNU) users.  Combine into a single line.)
        mcdch1 Wk1800-0730,Sa,Su ACU 1200 3125767902
            "" \r\c in:--in: pduucp word: public
    This is not an official service of Motorola and may be discontinued at
    any time.  The contents of the comp.sources.unix archive have been
    donated by the submitters of the files to the Usenet comp.sources.unix
    moderator for free availability throughout the community.  Motorola
    assumes no responsibility for the contents of these files, including
    the suitability for their use in any application on any hardware.
    (Some of the material, for example is known not to run on systems sold
    by Motorola.)  Any questions about suitability, problems with the
    software or documentation, or anything else related to the contents of
    the files should be directed to the persons who submitted the material
    originally (usually the authors).

4.  Pyramid Technology maintains a general user-contributed-software archive,
    including comp.sources.unix and comp.sources.games. Source modules are
    arranged both topically and by volume/issue number. New UUCP connections
    are welcome, although sites outside Northern California will be harrassed
    about why they haven't yet signed up for UUNet.* Pyramid will also make
    tapes on a *very* limited basis for people willing to stop by during off
    hours and wait while the tape is written.  This is being managed by Rick
    Preston with Carl Gutekunst kibitzing.  Contact [e-mail] for
    more information.  [  *Don't take this 100% seriously. ]

5.  Bill Wisner, [e-mail], and Steven Parker,
    [e-mail], maintain an archive of comp.sources.unix,
    as well as several other USENET newsgroups. This archive is available
    via anonymous UUCP and is reachable through PC Pursuit.  Two sample
    L.sys lines follow, one for 2400 baud access and one for 1200:
    killer Any ACU 2400 1-214-821-3795 in:--in: uupdsrc word: Public
    killer Any ACU 1200 1-214-827-2919 in:--in: uupdsrc word: Public
    Modify as necessary to fit local circumstances, of course. To get more
    information, request file killer!/bbsys4/README.

6.  Robert Elz ([e-mail]) keeps sources in different ways depending
    on his available disk space; contact him for more info.

7.  Thos Sumner at UCSF will respond to requests for material, but cannot
    promise an ongoing commitment.  Anyone requesting material via mail
    should supply a path from ucbvax.  Anyone requesting tape should
    contact him first.  Contact him at [e-mail], or
    ucbvax!ucsfcgl!cca.UCSF!thos

8.  Michael Squires maintains an archive site, sir-alan.  It has the
    full archive for anonymous uucp using the login of "pdsrc" (no
    password).  The Trailblazer autobauds between 300/1200/2400
    baud.  The number is 814 337 0894; the list of available files is in
    /usr/spool/pdsrc/all.subjects.

9.  Rick Adams ([e-mail]) provides archive access to those on the
    Internet.  Access is available directly via anonymous FTP; look in
    ~ftp/comp.sources.unix/volumeN.  Rick and I have managed to work out
    an arrangement so that these archives are always current -- right as
    the sources are published.  UUNET subscribers can also UUCP missing
    files directly.

10. Internet sites may also retrieve archives from j.cc.purdue.edu via
    anonymous ftp.  The archive is in the directory
    ~ftp/news/comp/sources/unix/volumeX.  Due to disk space
    considerations, many of the sources are compressed; these may be
    recognized by the ".Z" suffix.  If you don't have compress & friends,
    they are in ~ftp/pub/compress.shar for the taking.  This is being
    managed by Rich Kulawiec (Wombat), [e-mail].  They would
    appreciate it if you would avoid large file transfers in the middle of
    the day.  [Rick also points out that the FTP'able archies also contain
    mod.amiga, a bunch of kermit sources, news 2.11, rn 4.3, nntp, and
    whatever else happens to be in ~ftp/pub at the moment.]

11. The CSNET CIC is now current.  Send a request for "mod.sources" with
    the topics "help" and "index" to the Info-Server, or or contact
    [e-mail].

12. Sharan Kalwani at the Michigan Cancer Foundation ([e-mail]) has
    set up a mail-based server for Michigan sites.  The archive resides
    on mcf's machine. Comp.sources.unix and other stuff are available.
    Just a few issues are missing and efforts are solicited to make the
    archives complete.  For reasons of cost access is limited to MI users
    only unless you want to set up direct links with mcf.  Mail to
    "[e-mail]" and supply the text "send index" for some help on
    how to access the files and an index of the files currently online.
    For human help, mail to [e-mail] or mcf![e-mail].

13. Matt Caprille of Bull, S.A., in France has many sources archived
    and available in magnetic media.  Contact echbull!mfc for info.

14. Tad Guy maintains an FTP'able archive at Old Dominion University.
    The archive contains the Unix, X, Games, Misc, and Amiga source groups,
    as well as comp.binaries.amiga.  The unix sources are only kept
    on-line starting with Volume 10.  Anonymous FTP to Xanth.cs.odu.edu.