RE: A radical idea: a new XyWrite

[Bill Troop billtroop@xxxxxxxx]

At 10/04/2018 13:27, you wrote:

> Do you think a porting would be
> easier than just writing a new editor in C++ or Python? I mean, isn't
> writing a text editor an assignment given in computer science
> classes?


If this group is serious about purchasing programming help for XyWrite,
it would be necessary for it to understand that there are several orders
of magnitude of sophistication separating a computer class text editor
and XyWrite.


The reason we are still using XyWrite is because it is so fast and so
stable. The secrets to accomplishing such speed are not taught in
computer classes. And while I accept that much of Xy4 is written in a
semi-structured language such as C++, I have no doubt that much of it is
still written in 8080 assembler, an exceptionally opaque instruction
set.


Even if the code were open-source, I doubt that 1 in 100,000
programmers could understand a fraction of it; fewer would want to work
with it; for those who did, a large commitment in time would be
necessary.


Given that though Kenneth Frank might be located, there is not the
slightest evidence that he wishes to speak to anyone on the subject of
XyWrite, and given that NB does have the rights to the source code
(without which nothing can be done), it seems clear that the way forward
is to work with NB. If they are unwilling, it's a non-starter. It may be
that some of the improvements Harry and others want are not economical or
technically feasible; on the other hand, they may well be. There is no
way to know without advice from the experts.


But don't insult the experts by comparing their work to computer class
exercises. Please understand the universe of difference that exists
between XyWrite and ordinary programming.


I suggest that the only feasible way forward is to approach NB, Siebert,
Erickson.


Tangentially, may I suggest also that K. Frank may have sold his rights
back to NB under NDA? This could be why he does not want to be in contact
with anyone. It is equally possible that he has tried to engage
programmers to do something with the code and has found that it is not
possible. Not possible, that is, for any ordinarily constituted human
programmer.


May I also suggest the possibility that Dave, almost 30 years after
development ceased, may, himself, have neither the interest nor perhaps,
with time, even the ability to make useful changes in the last released
Xy4 code? But let us hope that is not the case.


By the way, who says Xy4 is not WYSIWYG? Have they forgotten graphics
mode or whatever it is called?


I suggest making up a brief, cogent wishlist and submitting it to NB for
costing out. I would be delighted to be proved wrong, but I don't think
there's any other way forward.


- - Bill