Subj : linked
To   : Bob Short
From : Frank Vest
Date : Thu Dec 12 2002 08:57 am

On (11 Dec 02) Bob Short wrote to Frank Vest...

Hello Bob,

[Nodelist]
 BS> Be that as it may, we should do what we can to get people here to
 BS> touch bases and discuss implimentation of the different ideas debated
 BS> there.

FV>  BS> I would ask all IP programmers to chime in here on this, and express
FV>  BS> their collective thoughts of feasibility.  :)

FV> I'm not a programmer.... My $.02 is that Fidonet really doesn't need a
FV> new format.

 BS> You'll agree it needs /something/ though, right?  ;-)

No (wrong).

 BS> I've read several threads on this and that solution, and believe that
 BS> an expanded NL format will be the easiest to accomplish and
 BS> distribute. At least, I'd like the possibility investigated...  :)

Please tell me what is wrong /with/ the Nodelist /format/ that Fidonet
needs a new one?

I once thought that the Nodelist had problems. I'm now more convinced
that the Nodelist is not the problem. The problems are:

1. Lack of specifications and standards

2. Programs that haven't kept up with new technology as well as
   specs/standards. (because there haven't been any specs/standards
   written to keep up with)

3. Programs that were written without following specs and standards
   because those specs and standards didn't exist.

4. Various other programming and/or use problems... many due to lack
   of or outdated specs/standards.

The Fidonet Nodelist is nothing more (or less) than a comma delimited
file. This Nodelist file doesn't care what it contains. The programs,
scripts and other things that use the Nodelist file care a /lot/ about
what is in there, but the file itself couldn't care less. :-)

The trick, IMHO, is to get the standards and specifications in order
without causing major problems with older software and then get the
software that is still under development to adjust to those
specs/standards.

As an example: The "PVT/-UNPUBLISHED-" problem. The Nodelist file
doesn't care if there is a PVT, HUB, HOST, REGION, ZONE or any other
word as/in the first field in it. The programs that the *Cs use to
compile the Node Segments into their respective Nodelists and
ultimately into the master Nodelist care a lot. The problem isn't in
the Nodelist... The problem is in the programs (NLMake, MakeNL and
such) and the specs/standards.

I've been through this before in this echo. It's a mess. :-) What
needs to be done, IMHO, is to get the specs/standards in order. Then
get programs that are still being developed to follow those specs and
standards.

Please feel free to Netmail me or to e-mail me at "flv (at) sbcglobal
(dot) net" with any Nodelist /format/ problems. :-)


Regards,

Frank

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/flv
http://biseonline.com/r19

.... Well, there you go.  Are you sorry you asked?

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