Date: Wed, 20 Aug 1997 17:56:33 +0300 (IDT)
From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz AT is DOT elta DOT co DOT il>
To: Paul Derbyshire <ao950 AT FreeNet DOT Carleton DOT CA>
cc: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: DJGPP patch for GNU Emacs calc?
In-Reply-To: <5tbg1k$aap@freenet-news.carleton.ca>
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.970820175457.24006N-100000@is>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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On 19 Aug 1997, Paul Derbyshire wrote:

> > that apparently this package needs some patches in order to work
> > successfully in the MS-DOS 8.3 filespace. As I recall, Eli reported doing
> > the patch and running GNU Emacs Calc in DJGPP, and generously offered to
> > make this patch available to interested DJGPP users.
> 
> The PATCH? Why force users to download the calc and the patch and
> patch.exe and run it, and post all kinds of patch questions here, instead
> of just patching emacs calc and distributing a working DOS 8.3 binary and
> dox and sources?

Quite simply, because I don't have time to do that.

I don't know whether you are aware how much effort does it take to
make a distribution that will work for everyone out of the box.  I
need to test it in several different environments (DOS, Windows 3.X,
Windows 95, with and without Bash, etc.), and write a DJGPP-specific
README file that explains the installation procedure.  Hacking a
package for MSDOS is one thing, but making a full working distribution
is much more work.

Since it seems that not too many people need Calc (only 3 requests for
that patch I promised in the 6 months or so that passed), or even use
Emacs, it looks like my decision was justified.

Of course, volunteers are welcome to do this for the public benefit.
I will gladly send the patches to anybody who would like to pick up
where I have left off.