[3591] in linux-announce channel archive
Linux-Announce Digest #882
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Digestifier)
Sat Nov 18 17:39:56 2000
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Date: Sat, 18 Nov 00 17:13:04 EST
Linux-Announce Digest #882, Volume #3 Sat, 18 Nov 00 17:13:04 EST
Contents:
vshnu 1.0.0 - visual shell available (Steve Kinzler)
COMMERCIAL: Inferno Binary CD now available (Dave Atkin)
libbadpenguin 0.9.6 - generic library for console tools development (AGX)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Steve Kinzler <kinzler@cs.indiana.edu>
Subject: vshnu 1.0.0 - visual shell available
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 21:42:43 GMT
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Vshnu 1.0.0 is now available at www.cs.indiana.edu/~kinzler/vshnu
Vshnu is a highly configurable visual shell and visual shell supplement
for Linux/Unix, written in Perl. The README follows:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> VSHNU <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The New Visual Shell <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~kinzler/vshnu
- ----------------------------- MOTIVATION -----------------------------
Skilled Unix users know the importance of the shell or command line
interface (CLI). (Old-time Unix users didn't even have a choice
about it). While having more of a learning curve than a graphical user
interface (GUI), it permits powerful, creative, complex operations to be
specified quickly and reliably. For anyone but the superficial user,
learning a CLI is an investment that pays off rewardingly. Command
line environments are still readily usable over low-bandwidth network
connections and restricted displays. Neal Stephenson explains the history
and values of computer interfaces exceedingly well in "In the Beginning
was the Command Line" <http://www.cryptonomicon.com/beginning.html>.
However, when one is concerned about file manipulation and management
(which is a very good thing to be concerned about as the basis of your
interface, as most GUIs would rather lead you to forget), a CLI can be a
frustratingly terse interface to the filesystem. Too many tedious `ls`
and `cd` commands are needed to keep watch on what's there. A GUI file
manager can address this problem, but then you're in mouseland and have
lost the advantages of the CLI.
Enter the visual shells. Not a new idea, visual shells can operate within
an entire terminal or console screen. File listings are displayed for
your constant reference. Common commands and operations can typically be
performed in fewer keystrokes in a visual interface. As the `vi` visual
editor evolved from the `ed` and `ex` command line editors, visual shells
have attempted to evolve from command line shells. Some visual shells
have promoted themselves as simpler menu-oriented interfaces suitable
for novices, while others emphasize more expert functionality.
Nonetheless, visual shells have never really caught on, except some in
certain circles such as Emacs' "dired" mode and the Midnight Commander
program. I believe this is because they have been designed as largely
self-contained applications with limited configurability. Using a visual
shell has required a significant jump into a new base interface tool,
and few are so compelling to make that worthwhile.
Hence the design of `vshnu`, the New Visual Shell. In the Unix
tradition, it works with things already there and fills a empty niche.
When incorporating it into your Unix environment, you keep your command
line shell, your editor, your pager, and access to all your tools, tricks
and know-how. Vshnu can operate as an optional supplemental visual mode
to your command line shell. You switch between command line and visual
mode easily as you wish. Your interface bandwidth and power for Unix
operations is on a higher plane and life gets sweeter :-). In addition,
being written in Perl, it ports to any Unix system without compilation,
gives you the advantages of a Perl interpreter running readily at
hand, and permits visual command customizability limited only by your
creativity, yet doesn't require knowledge of Perl for normal usage.
Vshnu is a tool that's worthwhile even if only used occasionally as an
interactive, pageable, color `ls`, yet still pays back, with interest,
whatever more you put into using it.
- ------------------------ ADDITIONAL FEATURES -------------------------
* Extensive options for sorting and listing a directory's files
* Multiple methods for navigating directories and selecting files
* Directory locations may be marked for quick returns
* Lists command outputs alongside files, including a builtin `ls -l`
* Directory and file histories
* In color terminals, uses color for more informative displays, including
file coloring by type via the standard LS_COLORS environment variable
* Expands and collapses chosen subdirectories
* Option to display Internet (Swatch) time
o Multiple methods for choosing and operating on individual or arbitrary
sets of files
o Key commands and file actions are 100% configurable, extensible and
arbitrarily complex, including multiple choice options
o File actions are customizable by file name/type/contents/etc, with
common actions configured by default
o Online help descriptions of key commands and file actions, by mode
and by command
o Separate per-site and per-user configurability
+ Adjustable file column displays
+ Adapts to changing screen sizes (but works best on screens 80 characters
wide or more)
+ Current directory and environment is propogated between vshnu and
the parent command line shell
+ Multiple interfaces for shell commands and Perl statements
+ Perl statements may be {{embedded}} within shell commands
+ A Perl "where" clause to subset the displayed files
@ Can use the CD_PATH environment variable as a search path for files
and directories
@ Recognizes the following standard environment variables: DISPLAY,
EDITOR, HOME, HOST, LS_COLORS, MAIL, PAGER, PATH, SHELL and VISUAL
- ------------------------------ HISTORY -------------------------------
Vshnu was inspired by and initially patterned after the program `vsh`,
the Visual Shell <http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~kinzler/home/doc/vsh.txt>.
Vsh was written in the early 1980's and is pretty much obsolete bit
rot now. After failing to be included in a BSD distribution, it faded
into obscurity. A SunOS port hasn't compiled since the pre-Solaris days,
and an attempted Linux port is still horrendously buggy. But, it started
with some right ideas. I used vsh almost my entire Unix career before
finally writing vshnu to replace, extend and modernize it.
The "nu" in "vshnu" implies "new", of course, as well as invokes the
Hindu god Vishnu, the preserver of the universe and restorer of dharma
(moral order). Hmmm, how appropriate.
- ---------------------------- INSTALLATION ----------------------------
1) PREREQUISITES
You need Perl 5.002 or greater with the Term::Screen and
Term::ANSIColor modules -- all available at <http://www.cpan.org>.
Term::Screen and Term::ANSIColor module files are also included here
in the libperl/Term directory. If you wish to install these, just
copy them into a directory in your Perl's @INC or into $HOME/lib/Term,
$HOME/libp/Term, $HOME/lib/perl/Term or $HOME/libp/perl/Term.
2) OPTIONAL
The Term::ReadLine::Gnu, or at least the Term::ReadLine::Perl, module
is recommended to provide line editing and filename completion within
vshnu <http://www.cpan.org>.
If available, vshnu can make good use of color in a terminal or
console with ANSI color support, and this is highly recommended.
For X Windows, the latest versions of `xterm` have proper color
support <http://www.clark.net/pub/dickey/xterm/>. Make sure
your terminfo or termcap information is properly defined for
your color terminal. You'll then also want the GNU fileutils
software <ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/fetish/> which includes the
`dircolors` tool for setting your LS_COLORS environment variable.
This variable is referenced by GNU `ls` and vshnu to determine
how files should be colored by type and name. As an example,
the file color specification file I use is available at
<http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~kinzler/home.html#etc/colorrc-ansi>.
3) INSTALLATION
Vshnu may be installed either as a regular Perl module or manually
in any desired locations, including your home directory.
A) AS A PERL MODULE
The usual routine
perl Makefile.PL
make install clean
should properly install the "vshnu" file in your Perl scripts
directory and the "vshnucfg.pl" file in your Perl library
directory.
B) MANUALLY
You can edit the first line of the "vshnu" script here to contain
the proper path to your perl executable, then copy it into any
directory in your PATH. Make sure the copy's made executable.
Then the "vshnucfg.pl" file can be copied where you wish. If it's
not installed as $HOME/.vshnucfg or as vshnucfg.pl somewhere in
your Perl's @INC or in $HOME/lib, $HOME/libp, $HOME/lib/perl or
$HOME/libp/perl, then you'll have to set the VSHNUCFG environment
variable to its location, or edit the installed "vshnu" script
near the top to set $default_vshnucfg.
4) SHELL INTEGRATION
Optionally, your regular shell environment can be enhanced to interact
with vshnu as a sort of supplemental visual mode, communicating
any environment changes to vshnu and directory changes between the
two shells.
See the subdirectory here for your command line shell for further
direction. Currently, only `tcsh` is available. Contributions of
other shell integrations are very welcome (a `bash` port should be
fairly easy using $PROMPT_COMMAND like tcsh's precmd alias).
5) PERSONAL CONFIGURATION
The installation procedure described above installs the main vshnu
"engine" script and the supplied required configuration file.
An entirely new configuration file could be written and substituted
for the supplied one for a vshnu with a very different key command
structure and operation (modeless perhaps).
Usually, though, you'll just want to add on some personal extras
or tweak a few things in the supplied configuration. This can be
done with a "vshnurc" Perl file. It's loaded after the "vshnucfg"
Perl file (installed above) and so can modify or supplement the
effects of anything in it. Both of these files are just Perl
code that define operating structures for vshnu's environment.
The location of the vshnurc file is assumed to be $HOME/.vshnurc (or
vshnurc.pl in Perl's @INC or in $HOME/lib, $HOME/libp, $HOME/lib/perl
or $HOME/libp/perl) unless the VSHNURC environment variable is set
(or the $default_vshnurc variable is set in the vshnucfg file).
My personal vshnurc file is included here as "vshnurc.pl" as an
example to start your own. Some familiarity with Perl will probably
be required to do any significant work within these files.
- ------------------------------- USAGE --------------------------------
This is the minimum you'll want to know to make some good use of vshunu
with the supplied configuration:
Upon starting vshnu, you should see a listing of the files in your
current directory. You can enter a subdirectory by typing the letter
that labels it. Typing the label letter of a file will load that file
into your editor. You can go up to the parent directory with <Return>
or back to the previous directory with '\'. <Tab> and <Backspace>
(or <Delete>) will slide the labels (aka the "bag") around to the
other files on the screen. <Space> will page to the next screenful of
files in the current directory. Typing 'L' repeatedly will display
the long listings of the files in the left column (<Control-L> will
clear the long listings). ':' will let you run a shell command.
'V' will suspend vshnu, dropping you back into the invoking shell.
<Control-Q>q will exit vshnu.
Of course, there's much, much more possible. Type '%' within each mode
of vshnu to see all the key commands available and what they'll do.
Type '&' to see what file actions will be performed upon selecting files
in the current file action mode. Type <Control-N> following by a key
to see what would happen with that key command.
Here's a summary of the modes in the supplied configuration, with the
keys to enter and exit each mode:
MODE KEY KEY COMMAND MODES
~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
main The starting mode and most commonly used.
choose / Selected files are added to the set of chosen files.
Main mode commands are available here, too, though a few
change meaning. Additional key commands are available
that operate on the chosen file set.
opts O Sets and unsets various options for sorting and listing
the display. Type '%' in opts mode for a complete
options list. This mode exits automatically after an
option key is selected.
MODE KEY FILE ACTION MODES
~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
edit The starting mode where files are editted and directories
are entered.
do ? Special action is taken depending on the nature of the
file selected, eg, GIF files are viewed, archive files
have their contents listed, etc.
expand " Selected directories are expanded in the file listing,
or collapsed if they're already expanded.
- ---------------------------- MAILING LIST ----------------------------
A web forum and mailing list for discussion, support and announcements
regarding vshnu is available at
http://www.egroups.com/group/vshnu
- ----------------------------- COPYRIGHT ------------------------------
vshnu: the New Visual Shell
Copyright (C) 1999-2000 Stephen B Kinzler
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or any
later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program (see the file "COPYING"); if not, write to the
Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston,
MA 02111-1307 USA
========================================================================
Steve Kinzler <kinzler@cs.indiana.edu> November 2000
http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~kinzler
Your feedback is welcome!
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From: dla@vitanuova.com (Dave Atkin)
Subject: COMMERCIAL: Inferno Binary CD now available
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 21:54:07 GMT
=====BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE=====
Inferno is a small, efficient operating system for cross-platform
distributed solutions and embedded devices. Inferno has been
available for some time as a free binary download for Linux, Windows
and Plan 9.
For those who would prefer to load Inferno from a CD, Vita Nuova has
now produced a low cost Inferno Binary & Limited Source CD, which
contains hosted versions of Inferno for Linux, Plan 9, FreeBSD,
Solaris/SPARC and Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000. The cost is
$25 (or 15 UK pounds) plus shipping.
The package includes source for most of the applications,
including the source for the web browser Charon (and its
ECMAscript/Javascript implementation).
See:
http://www.vitanuova.com/inferno/
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From: agx@linux.it (AGX)
Subject: libbadpenguin 0.9.6 - generic library for console tools development
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000 21:54:27 GMT
=====BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE=====
libbadpenguin - generic library for console tools development
[english]
libbadpenguin is a small static library used in many utilities that are
part of the Antonio Gallo's (AGX) GNU/Linux distribution "Bad Penguin".
It provides functions to manage the filesystem, double linked lists
(chains), terminal (cursor and color) and to handle TAR archives.
libbadpenguin goal is to speed-up the development of console tools
and scripts without requiring memory-expensive libraries such as
'ncurses' or 'GNU glib'. libbadpenguin is indeed to be small as
possibile to be linked statically in order to avoid dependencie
problem between different distributions.
Download from:
ftp://ftp.badpenguin.org/sources/
http://www.badpenguin.org/
[italian]
libbadpenguin e' una piccola libreria statica utilizzata all'interno di
molte utility che fanno parte della distribuzione GNU/Linux "Bad penguin.
Fornisce numerose funzioni per gestire il filesystem, liste doppiamente
concatenate, i colori ed il cursore del terminale e la gestione di archivi
in formato TAR.
Lo scopo di libbadpenguin e' quello di velocizzare lo sviluppo dei tool a
linea di comando o script, senza richiedere librerie che richiedono una
grande quantita' di memoria come ad esempio 'ncurses' o 'GNU glib'.
libbadpenguin e' disegnata per occupare meno spazio possibile in modo tale
da essere linkata staticamente ai programmi evitando problemi dovuti alle
dipendenze ed incompatibilita' tra diferenti distribuzioni.
Download da:
ftp://ftp.badpenguin.org/sources/
http://www.badpenguin.org/
- ---
My best regards,
Antonio Gallo (AGX)
Ciao, AGX http://www.antoniogallo.it
(o_ http://www.badpenguin.org "Bad Penguin" GNU/Linux
//\ http://www.linux.it ILS CD
V_/_ * 11/11/2000 Roma - www.linuxmeeting.org *
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