Re: [ql-users] Source Code

[Dave Walker]

If email distribtion was allowed (by the registrar at least), then it does provide a mechanism for distributing only changed files to those who are already known to have the source.    >From the registraras point it is then basically the same effort to send to an individual, or everyone on the list.   In terms of the size of distributions, a possibility is to use something like the "patch" program - of which there is a QDOS port to provide differntial patches against a known base.  As long as only one person (i.e. the registrar) produced these it would mean that one could send out regular (small) updates as patches and only send out the full release at much less frequent intervals.   Of course the above assumes that there WILL be a need to send out regular small patches because there is a active set of people working on the system.  However I feel that there is an element of self-fulfilment here - the faster and easier it is to turn around changes and/or enhancements the more interested a number of people (including myself) would be to work on the system   Dave   ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 8:34 AM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Source Code Dave Walker wrote: " >Wolfgang and others >One point that occurs to me is that the current restriction on >electronic distribution of the original source applies to Wolfgang >acting as the registrar? yes. ythink - the sources are several megabytes long. I routinely get about a 2KB/sec connection to my ISP. I don't see myself posting the source code via email every tile a change is made... > This means that every time Wolfgang accepts an update into the > official release then all those who are active and already have the >sources will want a new copy of the official source. Does this >mean that they need to apply to Wolfgang again? Good point. I have already foreseen that, if somebody is an "active developper" he will get updates from me automagically. There will probably be a certain number of people who will ask for the sources that will then go down a black hole - I'm not sure that these really need > I would assume not as this would very quickly become >unwieldy but the current license does not seem to offer an > >alternative. To be practical in terms of likely effort this means that >Wolfgang needs to letall those who already have copies of the >source an easy way of getting a later version with the minimum of >effort from all parties. Once you decide this, why not make the >initial distribution as painless. Ok, I hear you. > As stated earlier if control is wanted over this then a secure web >or FTP site would be a good solution. Alternatively Wolfgang >could maintain an email distribution list of those to whom updates >should be sent - but this only works well if the amount to be sent >remains small. If it grows in size or is changing with any >frequency then a download-on-demand approach is better. My >experience with the days when I used to supply c68 on disks >makes me feel strongly about this. It got to the stage where I >was spendingall my time copying disks. I only got things under >control when I switched to primarily web based distribution. Thanks for your input. It does give me solething to think about. SInce many people have requested to allow a distribution of the sources via email, I'll probably allow this in. Wolfgang