[arachne] Re: Upgrading Arachne

Arachne at FreeLists---The Arachne Fan Club!

On Thu, 11 May 2006 12:34:23 +0000, Udo Kuhnt wrote:

> I am not talking about additions - I am talking about a working set of
> configuration options that I use in *every* version of Arachne.

The Options in Arachne that affect the file arachne.cfg have
changed with different versions, so the arachne.cfg also has
changed as extra features are added. Using an old version of this
file will fail to control these new features properly.

> If you
> program your own additions, and use the same config files for these,
> then you have creatd your own version of hell - there is no reason to
> blame it on Arachne or make new users unsure.

There are five other configuration files, namely lantcp.cfg,
security.cfg, toolbar.cfg, wwwman.cfg, pppdrc.cfg, ppptcp.cfg,
and mime.cfg

I don't know a lot about most of these, but Glenn McCorkle notes
on his download page that many of the features in that file have
been turned off in the install package, and he leaves it to the
user to turn them on as required.

So it has been anticipated that the user _WILL_ want to edit the
configuration files to suit his needs and desires.

Arachne allows this! That's what makes Arachne so great!

> The developer should always write his program with the standard
> behaviour of users in mind. If someone deliberately tries to break a
> program, that is a different story.

I have no idea what you mean by trying to break a program, but
the Arachne developers have always allowed the user to trim
Arachne's configuration files to make it do what that user wants.

That's what makes Arachne so great!

> Do you steer your car in curves because you are afraid of ramming
> another one? That is what you do with Arachne; you try to avoid problems
> without knowing if they exist, and thus you *create* the problem in the
> first place.

I'm afraid you don't understand the first thing about this
process of anticipating trouble and avoiding it before it
happens.

It is more like testing your brakes before you leave home, rather
than waiting until the speed has built up on a steep downgrade
and then looking for a solution to control your car.

> Oh yes, you lose every single setting in the new version, and have to go
> through the whole process of setting up Arachne again.

All of my settings are still there in the old version's
directory! I lose NOTHING!

If I want I can choose to set everything up manually in the new
version, one step at a time.

Or I can open a two-window editor with the old and new config
files side by side and manually edit or copy whole blocks from
the old to the new.

Or I can copy the whole of the old config files directly into the
new version (not usually recommended).

And during the testing period, I can go back to the old version
and use it AT ANY TIME as it is untouched by the installation of
the new version.

>> As I have already said, if anyone wants to jump straight into the
>> new version of Arachne and use it, they can do exactly that!

>> Arachne allows it!

> Don't make me laugh - this is not a special feature, it is what everyone
> would expect, since most programs "allow" this.

Of course it is! But a lot of program upgrades do NOT allow any
alternative.

What I was pointing out was that Arachne allows a choice.

> The users can always decide for themselves - so do not try to sway them
> to your side with your paranoid talk.

That is what I have been saying -- the user can decide.

As for being paranoid, it is YOU who has been saying that your
way is the only way and anyone who thinks differently is wrong.

I have NEVER tried to sway you away from doing it your way if you
want to do it like that.

I was only pointing out that it is not the only way, and may not
be the best way for everyone.

I have no desire to continue this discussion with someone whose
mind is as closed as yours appears to be.

.   ,-./\      from Greg Mayman, in Adelaide, South Australia
.  /     \     "Queen City of The South"    34:55 S  138:36 E
.  \_,-*_/
.       v     homepage http://users.tpg.com.au/gmone/index.htm
                  Arachne at FreeLists                  
-- Arachne, The Premier GPL Web Browser/Suite for DOS --

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