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From: rlerdorf@netcom.com (Rasmus Lerdorf)
Subject: Re: Windows in ASCII
Message-ID: <rlerdorfCG4qJ7.Gt7@netcom.com>
Organization: Nutec
References: <1993Nov5.083938.17756@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1993 16:16:19 GMT
Lines: 32

plbuschm@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Pete Buschman) writes:

>             *** ASCII gui Theoretical Hurdles ***

>Now, if such a system were to be implemented, fully integrated with
>whatever o/s it were to run under, what standards would be enforced? IUll
>try and list a few that come to mind. To all of you, please post
>additional points IUve probably missed.

>    1.) Window border characters & standards.
>    2.) Active window, passive window representation.
>    3.) Menu bars and scroll bars.
>    4.) Icons (Is this feasible?) 
>    5.) Window resizing.
>    6.) Text resolution & varying system fonts.

Such a system already exists.  It is called Nutec Desktop.  A version 
for SCO Unix is available by anonymous ftp from netcom.com:/pub/nutec.
It is the standard user interface for Ireland Online and a couple
of other online systems, but it is currently mostly used in the
business community.

It does all of the above things along with some other features I don't
think you have thought of.  On systems capabable of graphics, the
interface is graphical.  If the system has a mouse, the interface
is mouse driven.  The system supports every imaginable emulation.
It also supports AlphaWindow terminal that have all the above
capabilities implemented in hardware.  In short, it's been done.
And the standard exists already.

*Rasmus*