Agreed. The original interface Is what makes XyWrite ‘XyWrite,’ and must be
preserved.
However with modern processors and compilers having more code for improved or
extended functionality would not slow the program down appreciably. Remember,
the original PC-XT used a 4.7 megahertz, 8-bit CPU, and most modern machines
clock out at 3 to 4 gigahertz with 64-bits. And so much more directly
accessible memory!
The only condition with adding functionality would be to keep the original look
and feel untouched, but make new functionality available by adding a new
keyboard command to invoke it.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
________________________________
From: xywrite-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <xywrite-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of
Flash <flash@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 3:33:24 AM
To: xywrite@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: A radical idea: a new XyWrite
Phil,
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
Opening up Xy to the public, basically as an open source app, runs a very big
risk: feature creep, leading to code bloat. I have seen this in several other
cases (noteably Wireshark and MS-Word). One of things that is most attractive
about Xy is that it stayed simple, remained tightly coded, and did not creep
into bloated features.
The current professional layout platform appears to be LaTex. If we are going
to go diddling around with Xy source codes (assuming the legal issue is ever
resolved), it would make sense to keep our eye on what Xy was originally
designed to do, which is to integrate Xy with the professional publishing
world, i.e., which currently means to make Xy LaTex-conform.
Sent from Flash's iPad
On 17 Apr 2018, at 17:14, Philip White
<pdwhite@xxxxxxx<mailto:pdwhite@xxxxxxx>> wrote:
Kari,
Sorry about not getting back to you on your post sooner. (Now that the
thundering herds of family and grandchildren have departed, I have the time to
do so.)
The idea of turning XyWrite into a public domain project has both good and bad
sides.
One difficulty is that unless we want to write a clone from scratch, getting a
licensed copy of the proprietary code to port over to a modern OS platform
could be difficult. That is, unless the proprietary owner would make it into a
donation, or a group of benefactors were to provide the money to buy it.
Another problem is the number of man-hours needed to port the old code onto a
modern platform so public domain ‘volunteers’ could continue to perfect it,
maintain it and keep it current.
On the positive side, XyWrite is a classic editing and scripting tool, not
unlike LaTeX, which could intrigue new and old programmers enough to give it a
following. (There is a lot more to say on this aspect, but is OT here…)
Personally, I do have a few connections that could be a source of manpower to
get this off the ground, especially in the public domain, but I’d need to make
inquiries and see if I could stir up interest. (Namely in enlisting grad
students from the University I retired from. I also know some of the higher-ups
who could put in a good word, many of these having a reverence for older
platforms, like LaTeX.)
There are a few posts in this thread offering a wish list. However, to play the
game, first you need a ‘ball.’
Phil
