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-
- Ever since I started using AREXX, I developed strong ideas on what
- feautures make a Rexx Host. Rather than to simply say what I want, I
- decided to put together an example.
-
- Actually, last year I started adding a bi-directional Rexx port to
- DME. But <.....> had already added a
- a Rexx port, and in a way that was incompatible with my then version.
- So I cancelled my project. Finding nothing else to do during this
- summer, I decided to create an example out of it. Mainly I want to be
- able to say, "If I can do it, so can any programmer". In the meantime,
- I also had the opportunity to look at the proposals of <..............>
- on adding a rexx port to MicroEmacs, and at Tom Rokicki's version of
- FreeDraw.
-
- Now, let me list the levels of Rexx support a program may have:
-
- 1(a). ARexx is a glorified macro processor cum variable handler.
- 1(b). Commands will also be accepted from ARexx.
- However the program does not have both 1(a) and 1(b).
-
- 2. The program exists in two modes: In the active mode, 1(a) is
- supported. In the idle mode 1(b) is supported.
-
- 3. Full bidirectional support is there. [If that is the case, support
- for asynchrnous arexx invocations may also be given.]
-
- Tom's FreeDraw does all three. But I want a few more features:
- Firstly, there should be a way to control the access. My suggestion
- would be to have paswords. External commands must be prefixed with the
- password while the restriction is in effect. Restriction placed by
- the user at the console must take precedence over others.
- The macro invocations must allow for function invocations, for
- result strings to be requested, or command line tokenization etc.
- No commands must be carried out after the program reaches the
- halt condition: This when the halt command is recieved from the console
- but before the program has cleaned up after itself.
-
- I have written a proof-of-concept example. I have tried to make the
- code as reusable as possible. But right now the code is Manx-specific.
- But one should be able to convert it other compiler/assembler combos
- in a dozen or so man-hours. If you plan to implement the full functionality
- of this example, I will gladly donate my help [even if you will profit
- from it].
-
-