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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.
From: xywrite-bounce@xxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 3:33:24 AM To: xywrite@xxxxxxxx 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
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
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