CONTACTS 
0201 - Dynamic Alternatives
020101 - Mr. Garold L. Johnson;

SUBJECTS
Default Null Subject Account for Blank Record

0403 -
0403 -    ..
0404 - Summary/Objective
0405 -
040501 - Follow up ref SDS 9 0000. ref SDS 8 0000.
040502 -
040503 -
040504 -
040505 -
040507 -  ..
0406 -
0407 -
0408 - Progress
0409 -
040901 - On 081114 met with Morris to review progress on Medit for SDS using
040902 - Java development tools. ref SDS 6 YD64
040904 -  ..
040905 - In later discusison with Gary on 081120 there was consideration of
040906 - deviating from prior success using assembly language which has been
040907 - effective for nearly 30 years, ref SDS 7 KD6O, shown in the record
040908 - meeting with Morris a few weeks ago on 081104. ref SDS 4 VO3P
040910 -  ..
040911 - On 081120, received a letter from Gary following up on discussions
040912 - with Morris about deviating from prior pattern and practice for Medit
040913 - development. ref SDS 7 KD7J
040915 -  ..
040916 - On 081122, received a copy of a letter from Morris responding to
040917 - Gary's letter on 081120, ref SDS 8 YX7N, and noting that line numbers
040918 - support structure for SDS, but are difficult to program with other
040919 - technologies. ref SDS 8 NX9V
040921 -  ..
040922 - Earlier today, received a copy of Gary's letter responding to Morris'
040923 - letter yesterday on 081122, ref SDS 9 SX40, and proposing develop the
040924 - Medit editor to build what already exists for SDS on 64-bit
040925 - microprocessors. ref SDS 9 V29Y
040927 -  ..
040928 - Received a copy of another letter from Morris today responding to
040929 - Gary's letter sent earlier, and saying,..
040930 -
040931 -    1.  Subject:  Issues Affecting Software Longevity
040932 -        Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:34:19 -0800
040940 -         ..
040941 -    2.  The libraries have settled down in the last couple of years.  I
040942 -        would use the lang, util, and swing libraries, and can do most
040943 -        things. (I don't think we need anything from math, but who
040944 -        knows).
040945 -
040946 -            [On 081126 responded to Morris with copy to Gary.
040947 -            ref SDS 10 KU4G
040949 -         ..
040950 -    3.  GNU has a java compiler, so if sun goes belly up tomorrow, a
040951 -        compiler is available in the public domain.  Bigger problem is
040952 -        "depracation" of things used today as the language evolves.
040954 -         ..
040955 -    4.  I agree about the C++ subset issue which is one of the reasons
040956 -        I have avoided it as a language.  Too many hardware dependent
040957 -        features and characteristics. (Chars are arrays of bytes, Use
040958 -        of pointers to do who knows what).  I have trouble porting C++
040959 -        between two machines without many problems, and over time, the
040960 -        language has been "extended" by every vendor out there. (I have
040961 -        ported a number of CAD tools with long nights using C++).
040962 -        Other languages such as Ruby have nice characteristics, but
040963 -        IMHO are not yet stable enough to expect long term use.  Java
040964 -        has been down the road for 15+ years now, and the language
040965 -        update rate is slowing quite a bit.
040967 -         ..
040968 -    5.  The records as they exist can be migrated to XML (I have
040969 -        already done that).  The problem is Rods free form tables and
040970 -        the use of blank lines to imply structure (but not all the
040971 -        time).  Structure is what he sees and how he sees it on the
040972 -        screen.
040974 -         ..
040975 -    6.  The current Medit macro system actually operates on the screen,
040976 -        and that creates a mess in a model view architecture.
040977 -
040978 -
040980 -  ..
040981 - Medit Editor Underway May Require Changing Macro Code for SDS
040982 -
040983 -
040984 -    7.  I started a Medit look alike.  Even Rod has realized he will
040985 -        have to redo a bunch of his macro code.  The screen can change
040986 -        dynamically and unexpectedly.  I will try and smooth the way
040987 -        with a higher level of commands.
040989 -  ..
040990 - Morris reporting work on Medit for SDS support aligns with discusisons
040991 - on 081104, ref SDS 4 2W6I, and meeting with Morris on 081114.
040992 - ref SDS 6 YD64
040994 -  ..
040995 - Yesterday, on 081122 Gary proposed building what exists to run SDS on
040996 - 64-bit technology. ref SDS 9 V29Y
040997 -
040998 -            [On 081130 Gary's letter cites disadvantages using assembly
040999 -            lanaguge and no advantages of assembly language for the
041000 -            editor to support what already exists for SDS, ref SDS 12
041001 -            IK5H, as previously proposed on 081123. ref SDS 9 V29Y
041003 -  ..
041004 - The prospect of "redoing a bunch" of SDS macro code seems conflicting
041005 - with requirements to replicate Medit on the first transition from
041006 - 16-bit to 64-bit technology.  The record on 081104 presents a goal to
041007 - minimize differences in order to avoid "redoing a bunch" of macro
041008 - code, ref SDS 4 VO3P, so that work with SDS can continue.  Experience
041009 - developing Medit with minimal differences in 64-bit technology can
041010 - then be applied to "redo a "bunch" of macros for SDS.
041012 -  ..
041013 - With this goal in mind, it is understood that some existing SDS code
041014 - will have to be changed.  For example, the code can eliminate using
041015 - multiple memory blocks to expand memory with the Windos Start command.
041016 - Another change will be to roll all or most macros into compiled code,
041017 - which will reduce disk calls.
041019 -  ..
041020 - Other changes in SDS macros may be needed to faciliate Morris' work.
041021 - We should try to collaborate on these changes to consider the level of
041022 - effort to achieve current functionality compared with time to modify
041023 - SDS macros.  If it might take a day or two for align the code for a
041024 - particular command, this may be a worthwhile investment to save weeks
041025 - of changing SDS macros.  On the other hand, changes to SDS macros that
041026 - can be achieved in a day or so, should be avoided at the expense of
041027 - days or weeks of Morris' time.
041029 -  ..
041030 - Collaboration on conforming commands in the new version of Medit can
041031 - be accomplished with early and often submission of the working
041032 - version of new Medit with lists of commands to try.
041034 -  ..
041035 - Morris' letter continues...
041036 -
041037 -    8.  I have an editFile class that encapsulates all the file
041038 -        editing. (It is growing quite rapidly).  The command parser is
041039 -        written in ANTLR a LL(*) parser, and I already have general
041040 -        expressions for anyplace a number could be used.
041042 -         ..
041043 -    9.  I suggested adding symbol tables, but Rod didn't get it, so I
041044 -        haven't done anything there yet.  In Java, it is real easy to
041045 -        set on up in a hash.
041047 -  ..
041048 - Cannot find anything in the record on "symbol tables."  On 081114
041049 -
041050 -            [On 081126 Morris mentions "symbol tables" in a follow up
041051 -            letter, ref SDS 11 V33V, called and Morris explained
041052 -            "symbol tables" relates to expanding the macro command set
041053 -            to something closer to the c programming language.
041054 -            ref SDS 11 WZ6K
041056 -  ..
041057 - Morris discussed difficulty finding a character set that supports SDS
041058 - requirements for line draw. ref SDS 6 5P4J   At that time, Morris was
041059 - concerned about difficulty applying a font set he could create to meet
041060 - SDS requirements, seeming to indicate that the operating system might
041061 - select a different font set from the one specified in the Medit code.
041062 - ref SDS 6 PS6O
041064 -  ..
041065 - We have not had that problem the past 30 years, because Microsoft
041066 - NTVD has maintained a stable font choice.
041067 -
041068 -
041070 -  ..
041071 - Multiple Command Structures Medit Potential Future Improvement
041072 -
041073 -
041074 - Morris' letter continues...
041075 -
041076 -   10.  If you want to support another command structure, it could be
041077 -        done.  Perhaps integrated in the same parser definition, or
041078 -        perhaps as a bolt on.  The biggest issue is deciding which
041079 -        command parser to use when.
041081 -  ..
041082 - On 081104 discussed minimizing changes from original Medit until the
041083 - first step is accomplished running SDS on 64-bit technology.
041084 - ref SDS 4 VO3P
041085 -
041086 -
041088 -  ..
041089 - Longevity Knowledge Technology Tied to Culture Not to Tools
041090 -
041091 -
041092 - Morris' letter continues...
041093 -
041094 -   11.  No company or technology lasts forever.  In the end, things
041095 -        must be maintained and migrated.  (I started on EBCIDIC (sp),
041096 -        and we gave that up after 30+ years.  I still miss the cent
041097 -        sign that was never a part of ASCII).
041099 -  ..
041100 - Current technology using ink and paper since 1500, was reviewed on
041101 - 081104 to set target for SDS longevity, ref SDS 4 265M, required for
041102 - cultural transformation.
041103 -
041104 -            [On 081130 Gary's letter seems to refer without specific
041105 -            citation to Morri's letter today on need for continual
041106 -            maintenance and migration. ref SDS 12 4P51
041108 -  ..
041109 - Eating, breathing, farming, the wheel, are technologies that have been
041110 - around much longer.  There must be a way for work product to survive
041111 - and be refined, and applied across generations within the meaning of
041112 - wisdom, reviewed on 081104. ref SDS 4 264L
041114 -  ..
041115 - Morris' letter continues...
041116 -
041117 -   12.  I currently have a Java editing core running, and am working on
041118 -        the command parser/interpreter.  The single operand cmd2 items
041119 -        are coded and working.  I still need to code the two letter
041120 -        commands.  Rod has the list of commands after looking in the
041121 -        file, but I haven't heard from him about which ones he actually
041122 -        uses.  Much testing and coding are still down the road.
041124 -  ..
041125 - On 081104 Morris asked for a list of Medit commands in pcmd.asm not
041126 - used for SDS macros. ref SDS 4 LG6I  Review showed pcmd.asm has a
041127 - small but important list of macro commands that are all used for SDS.
041128 - ref SDS 4 XF4K
041130 -  ..
041131 - On 081114 he showed that another file ptbl.asm has most Medit
041132 - commands. ref SDS 6 ZU4N  Review on 081114 found several commands that
041133 - don't seem to be used for SDS. ref SDS 6 M35J
041134 -
041139 -
041140 -
041141 -
041142 -
041143 -
041144 -
041145 -
041146 -
041147 -
041148 -
0412 -