Chris R Chapman wrote: > I've communicated with Charles directly and understand what he needs-- and > his frustration.
So have I, and I'm still not sure what he needs that isn't provided already. > Technically, yes, but that's just for the XCP message itself. Charles is > driving at what happens _before_ the XCP is sent, ie the handshaking and > preamble messages as per Appendix C. These aren't provided in the API as > examples-- however, if you're comfortable with PERL, these can be easily > discerned from the API instructions. True, but *they* are given as examples in the API, but not in the Appendix. CHECK_VERSION is in chapter 8.10, and AUTHENTICATE_USER is 8.4. > You're right, you are paranoid. As per the latter, the API manual is, to be > blunt, a work in progress. There are numerous errors and omissions, and if > I ever wrote something like that for a client, I'd lose my advance and have > to re-write it on my own dime. While not a concern for Charles, I hasten to > add that the quality of the PERL scripts also leaves a hell of a lot to be > desired. I agree, the API manual could use some tweaking (in fact, I suggested a tweak just the other day). But of all the projects I've ever worked on, I have to say that OpenSRS's documentation is *far* better than most. >>started ... especially if you've been "programming micro compunters >>since [you] purchased a >>TRS-80 back in 1976". > > Condescension isn't necessary here-- Charles is just trying to make the > point that he's not a complete neophyte. His frustration is one I share > about the API documentation-- it is poorly written with spotty examples, and > if you're not completely comfortable with PERL, you're SOL. I wasn't being condescending (not intentionally). My point was that, if he isn't a complete neophyte, then he should have more than enough information at his fingertips to figure things out. Again, I think the API is written well enough and the examples are more than sufficient. We just have to agree to disagree on that. I would rather chew off my leg than look at Perl code. But I did, and coded the PHP class. So it can be done, and I am far from an expert programmer. Heck, I only started using TRS-80's in 1986! :) > Give the guy a break! All of us have been at the bottom end of a learning > curve at one time or another, and will probably continue to be throughout > our careers. The difference, as I see it, is some of us are willing to put in the effort to at least try and climb up the curve, whereas others would rather be carried. - Colin
