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To:	cygwin AT cygwin DOT com
From:	Andrew DeFaria <Andrew AT DeFaria DOT com>
Subject:	Re: configuring the backspace key, etc. (un-indenting doesn't work with vim)
Date:	Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:59:43 -0700
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Jay wrote:
> While Andrew's tone is a bit strong/rude, I do agree.
Thanks. BTW I don't see the point is striving to be weak! To me strong 
is good. Rude? Well that's your interpretation and I've long since given 
up trying to control others.
> The keyboard should just work. PC keyboards have been for a very long 
> time now.
>
> One of the "obvious problems" though is that there is never any 
> instant switch over from "old days" to "modern times". It is a 
> continuum. It is gradual. Looking backward from our "current distant 
> future", many things look stupid, but they only ever get there 
> gradually. The teletype surely died off gradually, not instantly. So 
> how/when do you phase out support for it? How do you have new code 
> interoperate with the old code that is "sensitive" to teletypes? Code 
> lives a very long time of course.
What is it in a teletype that requires that a backspace character print 
out ^? and people would look at it and say "Gee that's exactly what I 
wanted to see?"???

I once complained that on some Unixes, when at the password prompt, 
typing a backspace would screw up the entry of the password. I was told 
by old Unix folk that "well listen sonny, back when Unix started there 
were these teletypes here and well the backspace key was way far away 
and the del key was much closer so if you really want to erase the 
previous character while entering your password use del not backspace". 
Still other Unix folk insisted that backspace is a legitimate character 
for passwords and somebody may actually want to have backspace as part 
of their password.

I responded with "Well who the hell is using teletypes anymore" and "If 
somebody really wants to use backspace as part of their password should 
they be expected to jump through hoops to enter it instead of 
inconveniencing everybody else?". This was back in the '80s. Slowly 
getty started learning that backspace is supposed to do a backspace... 
Change is indeed difficult for some - but not for others.
> How do you know removing support for something won't break someone? Do 
> you actively collect "telemetry" data as to the usage of everthing? 
> How close to zero is close enough?
How about making the small minority of people with antiquated systems 
have it not work for them instead of having it not work for the masses?!?
-- 
Andrew DeFaria <http://defaria.com>
He's not dead, he's electroencephalographically challenged.


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