Someone somewhere wrote: > > > With a program like paps (check Dov's post) and most programs > > > printing... Is it important to have lp, lpr shape and bidi > > > arabic text. even though i could get a program like paps to > > > convert the text to .ps with 1 command ? > > > >As discussed on IRC, it is best to get proper support within > >the application itself (it ensures longevity in the support > >among many other things). Newbies for one will not seek out > >"alternate" solutions (nor will non-hackers and business-type > >users) so it would be best to have it supported from the get-go > >natively within the popular applications.
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, in many many many ways: * Yes, it is best to get proper support in the application itself, but "really proper", not just something that does the job. For example, I send shivers down my spine everytime I remember that "less" is will be doing something about LamAlef ligature!!! That's simply a very very bad design. For the least, there should be a library that "less" will use. * Newbies *do* seek for alternative solutions. They search on Google. Since they **don't know** about the Unix traditions. They don't know that some command named "lpr" exists at all. * Business-type users *do* seek for alternative solutions too. What can they do otherwise?? * For both newbies and business-type users, you better add printing support in desktops. Have you ever tried printing Arabic with gedit? What about Mozilla?? AbiWord??? * Newbies *are not supposed to* use command line tools. Eh? At least without asking others for advice. > > > I'm new to linux (so go easy on me) and I can't understand > > > the need for such a primitive application like 'lp' needing > > > to address international issues, if it can be done by using > > > a higher level format... > > > >There will always be demand for lp/lpr (and look into something > >called 'enscript') since the command-line and the terminal > >emulator will never disappear. So yes, there will always be demand for lpr, but what does it mean??? lpr is used by every command that wants print. Where do you deduce that people are supposed to call lpr on command line manually??? Last, but not least, don't forget the Unix philosophy: Every tool should do a small job, but do it good. Pipes are your friend. --behdad behdad.org _______________________________________________ Developer mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.arabeyes.org/mailman/listinfo/developer
