Usenet 1993 July/InfoMagic USENET CD-ROM July 1993.ISO/sources/x/volume6/intro6

Internet Message Format | 1990-02-27 | 25.7 KB

Path: uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!sun!turnpike!argv
From: [e-mail] (Dan Heller)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.x
Subject: v06INF1: Introduction to comp.sources.x
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 28 Feb 90 09:13:14 GMT
Sender: [e-mail]
Lines: 612
Approved: [e-mail]

Submitted-by: [e-mail]
Posting-number: Volume 6, Info 1
Archive-name: intro6

[ Moderator's note:
  We're back!  After a long timeout, comp.sources.x is back in
  business again.  It actually was still going, but the temporary
  moderator (Kent Landfield <[e-mail]>) had his hostname
  change and most of his postings never got out.  So, rather than
  start where we left off, we're starting with volume 6 and we're
  going to repost some of those volume 5 postings.  Note: the index
  listed in info#2 lists the "valid" volume 5 postings.

  I am the moderator of this newsgroup and altho sometimes I may
  submit postings of my own creation, most postings are not written
  by me.  So, if you have a problem with a particular posting, please
  mail to the Submitter of the program; not me.
]

This is the first of two introductory messages about comp.sources.x.
There are *many* things covered in this posting -- each new topic is
preceded by a Subject: line.  If you get bored reading a particular
section, fast forward to the next Subject: line and read that one.
Please don't submit sources without having read -everything- in this
file (you'll be tested and graded later :-).

Most of all, this posting describes how to submit sources to comp.sources.x,
where the archive sites are, and how to contact them.  The second lists
the sources that have been published in this newsgroup.

I am always looking for suggestions on how to improve the usefulness
of the newsgroup.  Please do not hesitate to send suggestions to
[e-mail] or [e-mail] just cuz he's such a nice guy.

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

Each posting in comp.sources.x 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.x; sources
and "information postings."  They can be distinguished by the subject
line:
    Subject:  v03INF1:  Introduction to comp.sources.x

This first word in the title identifies this as the first info posting of
volume three.  Similarly, the subject line shown below:

    Subject:  v01i060:  select: a selection widget, Part01/01

identifies this as the 60th source article in Volume 1.  All sources are
broken up into pieces.  This is done so that there could be a proper storage
directory when patches are issued. This is part 1 of a 1 part posting.

    Subject:  v01i056:  xphoon: Show phase of the Moon on root window, Part01/04

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-Xlogin/part01

The "Submitted-by" is the author of the program.  IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE SOURCES PUBLISHED IN COMP.SOURCES.X, 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: xdvi/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: Patches Handling

Patches will be handled as swiftly as possible. Authors of sources posted
to c.s.x should send all patches to me so that I can post them back through
the newsgroup in order that the patches can be archived. This has not been
done in the past in other sources groups and has lead to lost patches. If
the patches must get out *real* fast, post them to comp.sources.bugs and
send me a copy at the same time so that they will be available when they
are needed in the future.

To support the tracking of patches, the Patch-To: line is used in c.s.x.
The Patch-To: line exists for articles that are patches to previously posted
software. The Patch-To: line only appears in articles that are posted,
"Official", patches. The initial postings would not contain the Patch-To:
auxiliary header line.

Patch-To: syntax
    Patch-To: package-name: Volume X, Issue x[-y,z]

Patch-To: examples. These are examples and do not reflect the
accurate volume/issue numbering for rkive.

In the first example, the article that contains the following line
is a patch to a single part posting.
    Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122

This example shows that the 122-124 indicates the patch applies to
a multi-part posting. The '-' is used to mean "article A through article
B, inclusive..
    Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122-124

If a patch applies to multiple part postings that are not consecutive, the
',' is used to separate the part issue numbers. It is possible to mix both
',' and '-' on a single Patch-To: line.
    Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122,125,126,127
    Patch-To: rkive: Volume 22, Issue 122,125-127

--------------------
Subject: Reporting and tracking bugs.

You should subscribe to comp.sources.bugs.

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.  Generally, minor updates should be in patch form
and update the patchlevel.h file.  Major updates usually indicate that
there have been so many changes that the patches outweigh the size of the
new source or that the number of patch levels grows so large that people
are rarely up to date.  If it's been a year since the last major posting,
it is a candidate for being reposted.

To report bugs, contact the person listed in the Submitted-by 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.
Likewise, I normally do not post patches for a package from anyone
except the author. If you have patches you would like to see included
in the package, send them to the person listed in the Submitted-by
header.

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

Items intended for posting or queries and problem notes should be sent to
[e-mail], *not* to the address of the newsgroup moderator.

If you want verification of arrival, say so 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 couple of days.  Please note that, except in rare cases, source
that doesn't meet the guidelines will not be published.  The backlog
from receipt to posting varies from one to four weeks depending mostly
on the set of submissions currently in my queue and my current work load.

-------------------
Subject: Guidelines

To make life easier for both myself and the users of the comp.sources.x
newsgroup, I request that all submissions follow the following guidelines.

Initial Submissions:
    1.  Try to use #include <X11/Xos.h> instead of things like
        types.h, strings.h and time.h
    2.  Please use -display displayname and -geometry geomspec
        instead of the old style.
    3.  Source filenames need to be 12 or fewer characters in length.
    4.  Include an Imakefile.  For more information on Imakefile's,
        read imake.man in util/imake on the X11 Release 4 distribution.
    5.  A Makefile is required.
    6.  A manual page is required.
    7.  A README file is required. This should contain a brief
        description of what the posting is and any special
        considerations in building it. The README should
        also contain a list of authors and the distribution
        and copying policy.
    8.  Postings should be in shar format of <= 75K. If it is necessary to
        split the posting into multiple parts, each shar file should be <= 75K.
    9.  Include a patchlevel.h -- This file is used to keep track
        of how many official patches have been applied.
    10. If fonts are submitted, please assure they are in bdf format.
    11. Any additional documentation (past the required man page)
        should be in PostScript format or some nroff/troff format so
    people can print it out nicely.

Updates, patches, etc.:
    It is up to the author to determine if there have been major enough
    changes to warrant a complete reposting. This may be necessary if the
    size of the patches exceeds the size of the source but in most cases
    only patches are posted. Total repostings should be treated as an
    initial posting. What follows pertains to patches...

    1.  When patches are submitted, they should be in context diff
        format.
    2.  A patch to patchlevel.h should be done to reflect that the
        patch has been applied.  You are -advised- to include a Prereq:
    line in your patch for this file so that if patchlevel.h fails
    to patch correctly (the user is out of sync), the rest of the
    patches will not be applied.
    3.  Include information about which previously posted issues
        the patch pertains to if they were initially posted to c.s.x.
    This information will be reflected in the Patch-To: header
    when your article is posted.

    For more information on patch see patch.man in util/patch/patch.man
    in the X11 Release 4 distribution or in volume7 of the comp.sources.unix
    archives.  Patches can be made with diff -c on 4.XBSD based machines and
    with diffc on others. Diffc can be found in volume 1 of comp.sources.unix
    archives. GNU diff can also be used to create context diffs.

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

If you collect comp.sources.x 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.

There are several active archive sites around the net.  Archive sites in
the U.K., Canada, and Switzerland are set up, and it may be extended to
provide full European coverage.  If you are interested please contact me.

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
propagation. At the end are detailed instructions on how to access
the archives.  More sites will be listed there in the future.

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

Here is what each field means:
Site:        The name of the site nice enough to act as an archive site.
Contact:     The name of the person to contact and their mail address
Location:    The general area of the world the site is located in.
Modems:      For providing UUCP access, what types of modems are available.
UUCP:        Type of UUCP access is available.
FTP:         Type of FTP access is available.
Mail Server: Account address of the automated mail server if available.
Additional:  Additional information pertaining to accessing the archive.

            ************************
                 U S A - EASTERN
            ************************

Site:         uunet.uu.net
Contact:      Rick Adams ([e-mail])
Location:     Fairfax, VA
Modems:       Telebit
UUCP:         uunet uucp customers only
FTP:          anonymous ftp
Mail server:  netlib@uunet
Additional:   contact the postmaster for more information

Site:         hhb
Contact:      Lee Daniels (lee@hhb)
Location:     New Jersey
Modems:       1200/2400
UUCP:         On Request
FTP:          None
Mail server:  None
Additional:   The East Coast Xarchive is now available.  The purpose of
    this archive is to provide access to all publicly available X Window
    System based software through UUCP.  The archive contains a complete
    comp.sources.x directory and a copy of what can be found on expo/contrib
    and expo/pub.  The expo directories are updated roughly once a month.

    The archive can be accessed at 1200 and 2400 baud.

    UUCP connections are available on request The only requirements are that
    you submit the attached form requesting connection information. When you
    submit the form, your host becomes authorizes to call the archive. You
    will be sent a copy of the L.sys entry for accessing the archive.  The
    archive administrator is using this approach in order to document the
    usage of the archive in order to help justify its existence to the system
    administrator and upper management.  I am hoping to have enough information     to help justify adding a Telebit Trailblazer.

              Lee Daniels            princeton!hhb![e-mail]
              HHB Systems
              1000 Wyckoff Avenue        [phone]
              Mahwah, New Jersey  07430
---------------------------- c u t    h e r e ---------------------------------
Name:
Email address:
Phone number:
UUCP system's hostname:
Company:
Company address:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Site:         dune
Contact:      pax@dune
Location:     Unknown
Fidonet:      369/6 - The Eye of Osiris OPUS/UFGATE 305-973-1947
Modems:       Unknown
UUCP:         Anonymous UUCP
FTP:          None
Mail server:  None
Additional:   Fidonet archive

            ************************
                 U S A - CENTRAL
            ************************

Site:         ssbell
Contact:      Kent Landfield ([e-mail])
Location:     Omaha/Bellevue, NE
Modems:       Telebit
UUCP:         On request
FTP:          No
Mail server:  netlib@ssbell
Additional:   Tapes made on request

Site:         j.cc.purdue.edu
Contact:      Jeff Smith ([e-mail])
Location:     Indiana
Modems:       None
UUCP:         None
FTP:          Anonymous FTP
Mail server:  None
Additional:   None

Site:         mcdchg
Contact:      Ron Heiby (heiby@mcdchg)
Location:     Illinois
Modems:       1200 Baud
UUCP:         Anonymous UUCP
FTP:          None
Mail server:  None
Additional:
     In order to ensure that the archive service does not interfere with
     real work, the uucico for the archive login will be have its "x"
     permission bits turned off at 8 a.m. Chicago local time (CST6CDT) and
     on again at 6 p.m. on weekdays.  Execute permission will be turned on
     throughout Saturday and Sunday.

     The phone number for "mcdch1" is (currently) 1-312-576-7902.  There is
     a single line on that number.  The modem will answer at 1200bps and will
     require a carriage return to get a "login:" prompt.  In response to the
     login prompt, your system should send the login id, "pduucp".  The password
     is "public".  As I said above, all this is turned off between about 8 a.m.
     and 6 p.m. Chicago time Monday through Friday, so we can get our real work
     done, so don't bother trying it during those periods.

     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 chicago5767902
        "" \r\c in:--in: pduucp word: public

     Once you have your system set up to place an outgoing UUCP call to
     "mcdch1", you can retrieve material from the archives.  There are two
     files that are excellent choices for testing your link.  This file is
     file mcdch1!~/howto.snarf.  The current directory of what is stored
     in the comp.sources.x archives is found in the file mcdch1!~/directory.
     To get either of these, execute a command like:
         uucp mcdch1!~/howto.snarf !~/MYNAME/
         uucp mcdch1!~/directory !~/MYNAME/

     The directory is simply the output from "ls -sRxF" on the comp.sources.x
     archive disk hierarchy.  It is updated just before 6 p.m. every day.

     Be sure to look carefully to be sure you are getting the latest version
     available.  Also, look for "index" files to help find what you want.

     NOTE: There are occasionally inconsistencies between the archive names
           we have on disk and those published in the index by the moderator
           of comp.sources.x.

     WARNING: These files are not stored under /usr/spool/uucppublic, so
           requests that specify an absolute pathname, rather than one
           under "~" will almost certainly fail.

     WARNING: Please be aware that uucp commands asking for file names
           containing wild cards will almost certainly not work.  This is
           because all of the implementations I know of submit a uux job
           to the remote system asking it to run "uucp" on the wild card
           filename.  Systems logging in with "pduucp" are prohibited from
           executing "uucp" or other commands via "uux".  So, be sure to
           ask for each file separately.


Site:         mcf
Contact:      Sharan Kalwani ([e-mail])
Location:     Michigan
Modems:       1200/2400, Telebit
UUCP:         On Request
FTP:          None
Mail server:  archives@mcf
Additional:
    Sharan Kalwani at the Michigan Cancer Foundation ([e-mail]) has
    set up a mail-based server.  The archive resides on mcf's machine.
    Comp.sources.x, comp.sources.unix and other stuff are available.
    Mail to "[e-mail]" and supply the text
        send index from comp.sources.x
    for some help on how to access the files and an index of the files
    currently online.  For human help, mail to [e-mail].

Site:         e.ms.uky.edu
Contact:      David Herron ([e-mail])
Location:     Kentucky
Modems:       Telebit
UUCP:         On Request
FTP:          Anonymous FTP
Mail server:  None
Additional:   None

            ************************
                 U S A - WESTERN
            ************************

Site:         aeras
Contact:      Jason Winters (jason@aeras)
Location:     San Jose, CA
Modems:       1200, 2400, Telebit
UUCP:         Anonymous
FTP:          None
Mail server:  None
Additional:   SnailMail tapes (Under duress)
     Systems/L.sys information:
     aeras Any 1200  4089439152 "" "" ogin:--ogin: uugarch word: freebee
     aeras Any 19200 4089439246 "" "" ogin:--ogin: uugarch word: freebee
     aeras Any 2400  4089439396 "" "" ogin:--ogin: uugarch word: freebee

     Suggested places to get additional information:
         /u3/archive/sources/LISTING
     LISTING contains the names of all the programs stored in the
     archives, and the sizes.  Note: all archives have probably been
     stored in compressed form, with 12 bit compression (for machines
     that can't handle 16 bit).  All multiple file programs have been
     stored in separate directories, then compressed.

     More information about the files stored in a particular volume are
     kept in files called LOGFILE. Such as:
         /u3/archive/sources/x/vol1/LOGFILE
     would be the one to get to examine the exact contents of volume 1
     of the x section.  Additional information from files:  sample command
     to recover files:
         uucp aeras!/u3/archive/sources/games/vol1/LOGFILE /tmp/.
     Special note:  wild cards have been proven to not be reliable, so
                    to assure success they are not recommended tools.

Site:         daisy
Contact:      James Turner (turner@daisy):
Location:     Mtn View, CA
Modems:       1200, 2400, Telebit RSN
UUCP:         Anonymous UUCP
FTP:          None
Mail server:  None
Additional:   SnailMail tapes
    The West Coast Xarchive is now available.  The purpose of this archive is
    to provide access to all publicly available X Window System based soft-
    ware through UUCP.  The archive contains a complete comp.sources.x direct-
    ory and a copy of what can be found on expo/contrib and expo/pub.  The
    expo directories will be updated roughly once a month.

    The archive can currently be accessed at 1200/2400 baud or at 19.2K
    baud (Telebit Trailblazer). Access is by anonymous login, the userid
    is UXarchiv with no password. The dialin numbers are:

        415-967-4619    1200/2400   dial-in
        415-967-4718    trailblazer dial-in

    A sample L.sys entry might be:

    daisy Any ACU 19200 4159674718 "" \d ogin: UXarchiv
    daisy Any ACU 2400  4159674619 ogin:-BREAK-ogin: UXarchiv

    To get a current listing of what files are available and where they
    can be found, download the file /usr/spool/uucppublic/Xarchive/ls-lR.Z

    ...{decwrl|ucbvax}!imagen!atari!daisy!turner (James M. Turner)
    ...uunet!daisy!turner
    Daisy Systems, 700 E. Middlefield Rd, P.O. Box 7006,
    Mountain View CA 94039-7006.                          [phone]


Site:         zok
Contact:      sj.ate.slb.com!mark%zok (Mark W. Snitily)
Location:     Mtn View, CA
Modems:       19.2K, 2400, 1200
UUCP:         [phone]: login: UXarch  Password: Xgoodies
FTP:          None
Mail server:  None
Additional:   SnailMail tapes

A sample Systems (or L.sys) entry might be:
   zok Any ACU 19200 4089968285 in:--in: UXarch word: Xgoodies

To get a current listing of the files that are available, download
the file "/usrX/ls-lR.Z".

A full subject index of the comp.sources.x files is available in the
file "/usrX/comp.sources.x/INDEX".

When downloading files with uucp, wildcards (i.e. "*") won't work.  Be
sure to specify the full pathname starting with "/usrX/".  For example,

   uucp zok\!/usrX/ls-lR.Z \!~

(The above "\"'s are csh escapes, ignore them if you're using sh.)

Currently this modem line is Zok's only email and news connection to
the outside world.  Should you wish to fetch large distributions, such
as X11R4, it would be appreciated if you would pause every now and then
so that normal UUCP traffic may continue.  Thanks.

Site:         gatekeeper.dec.com
Contact:      Paul Vixie ([e-mail])
Location:     Palo Alto, California
Modems:       N/A
UUCP          UUCP to existing neighbors
FTP:          Anonymous FTP
Mail server:  None
Additional:   None

Site:         tekcsc.mkt.tek.com
Contact:      Jeff Beadles ([e-mail])
Location:     Wilsonville, Oregon
Modems:       Telebit
UUCP:         On Request
FTP:          None
Mail server:  [e-mail]
Additional:   Tapes

            ************************
                    Canada
            ************************

Site:         geac
Contact:      David Haynes (x-depot@geac)
Location:     Markham, Ontario CANADA
Modems:       Telebits (X.25 soon)
UUCP:         Anonymous UUCP
FTP:          None
Mail server:  netlib@geac
Additional:   Tarmail, Tape Duplication

            ************************
                 Great Britain
            ************************

Site:         doc.ic.ac.uk
Contact:      Lee McLoughlin ([e-mail])
Location:     Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
Modems:       Indirectly thru' modems onto Janet 300/1200/2400
UUCP:         None
FTP:          Janet/PSS NIFTP
Mail server:  info-server
Additional:   None

            ************************
                  Switzerland
            ************************

Site:         pan
Contact:      Jamie Watson (mcvax!cernvax!pan!jw)
Location:     Solothurn, Switzerland
Modems:       Multitech 1200/2400
UUCP:         Anonymous UUCP
FTP:          None
Mail server:  None
Additional:   SnailMail tapes/diskettes

---------------------------------------
Subject: Editorial comments

  Altho I don't make it a rule, postings which require uuencoded files
  be included are accepted, but I much prefer btoa format.  In fact,
  source code submissions (especially large ones) are more easily
  transferred in mail and more easily stored for me if you use tarmail
  rather than shar.  But this in in my own opinion and I am not making
  any requirements that people use tarmail/btoa at all.

  Why btoa instead of uuencode? First and foremost, uuencode doesn't travel
  well over certain mail transport agents because it uses a "space" as a
  possible conversion character.  There are some MTAs that remove trailing
  spaces from the ends of lines and it would result in a file that you could
  not "decode".  Secondly, the amount of ascii characters actually
  generated by "btoa" is far fewer than uuencode, saving on net traffic.
  Finally, it's just so much easier to deal with -- you don't
  have to worry about setuid, creating files automatically, chmod 666, and
  you can use btoa in a pipe.

    "Top 10 pet peeves of the comp.sources.x moderator."

10.  Submissions that do not contain a README or Imakefile file.
9.   Submissions that do not contain a man page.
8.   People who ask me if there are any postscript previewers available.
7.   People who send me sources using uuencode (use "shar" files < 75K each).
6.   Programs that don't compile right the first time.
5.   That guy who sends me those digitized frames from the Rob Lowe video.
4.   Shell scripts that post the wrong subject line.
3.   Patches that don't apply correctly.
2.   No, I don't know when R4 is going to be released.
    And the #1 pet peeve by the comp.sources.x moderator...
1.   Requests for previous postings to be resent to them.
dan
-----------------------------------------------------------
            O'Reilly && Associates
        [e-mail] / [e-mail]
       632 Petaluma Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
     800-338-NUTS, in CA: 800-533-NUTS, FAX [phone]
    Opinions expressed reflect those of the author only.