[400] in Release_7.7_team
Software suggestion
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mike Barker)
Fri Dec 22 14:30:46 1995
To: khyung@MIT.EDU (Kwong Hiu Yung)
Cc: suggest@MIT.EDU, release-team@MIT.EDU
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 1995 14:30:43 EST
From: Mike Barker <mbarker@MIT.EDU>
Thank you very much for your suggestions.
-The basic bread-and-butter of athena should be updated in the next
-7.8 release of athena.
-1) emacs18 should be replaced with xemacs19
-2) latex should be replaced with latex2e
-When I first found out about xemacs19 and latex2e, I felt very
-much cheated that athena had been so delinquent in updating to
-these new and improved systems.
Let me point out that Athena must provide the "basic bread-and-butter"
services first. As a result, we cannot replace the standard emacs
with xemacs19 since it is only in beta and not available for all the
platforms. Basically, we provide a conservative environment as the
default, with lockers available for the advanced users like yourself
to explore the new and improved systems.
-1) I find that xemacs19 is by far the prettiest emacs I have ever
-seen, quite a change from emacs18 and even from emacs19. I am
-certain that other athena users would be happier to see that vast
-color and font arrays that comes with xemacs19, not to mention all
-the graphics!
We are currently just beginning the process of introducing emacs19 as
the default emacs on our platforms. As part of that, we have to
install, test, document, convert training materials, provide
workshops, and otherwise prepare for use. You might consider helping
us convince other users that moving to emacs19 is a useful step, not
merely irritating.
Certainly we could simply change the programs and hope that the users
wouldn't get too upset with the changes, but we like to do the
complete job.
Since we do have users with serial terminals, four different
platforms, and services that must interact with emacs, I doubt that we
can switch the default to xemacs19. As you have discovered, though,
Athena provides lockers and an environment that allows both advanced
users like yourself and more conservative users to select the features
they will use. The default Athena environment will almost always be
more conservative than what is available in lockers, simply because we
have to serve the largest possible set of users within that
environment. We provide lockers and tools to let advanced users
tailor their environment to use newer, more exciting programs such as
those you have found.
-2) Since last year, latex2e has arrived and offers new
-possibilities in document processing. I am well aware that
-currently there is the /mit/newtex locker, but no one else would
-know about it unless it is publicly announced.
As you have noticed, news about lockers may not be announced as well
as possible. I certainly think that if you would like to help in
making up web pages or otherwise publicizing what is available in
various lockers, this would be very much appreciated by the MIT
community. You might consider working with SIPB, the consultants in
building 11, or the Athena Software Services Team.
-Currently both xemacs19 /mit/xemacs and latex2e /mit/newtex are
-available, but both lockers still need to be setup. I find that
-xemacs19 especially has many inherent difficults in its x-display
-routines and translation tables. Please attend to these setup
-issues as soon as you can. Thanks.
If you are really interested in helping set up the lockers, please
talk to jered about the xemacs locker or to sipb about the newtex
locker. I'm sure that they would appreciate help.
Thank you for using Athena.
Mike Barker
Athena Software Services Team Leader
