Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.programmer
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!linus!agate!violet.berkeley.edu!pete
From: pete@violet.berkeley.edu (Pete Goodeve)
Subject: Hyper Functionality [was Re: An Amiga Conversion Facility (2 of 3) LONG!]
Message-ID: <1991Apr18.065847.8050@agate.berkeley.edu>
Summary: misuse of terminology?  This is WAY COOL!
Sender: root@agate.berkeley.edu (Charlie Root)
Reply-To: navas@cory.Berkeley.EDU
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
References: <2407@swrinde.nde.swri.edu>
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1991 06:58:47 GMT
Lines: 73

[I'm posting this for Dave Navas, whose news server happens to be down...
						-- Pete --                ]


In article kent@swrinde.nde.swri.edu (Kent D. Polk) writes:
>
>Where does it exist? What exists that allows me to programmatically
>pass a pointer, etc. to a bitmap in a message & get an encapsulated
>Postscript file as a result?  Or a set of DR2D commands & get it
>rendered, or get the Postscript output of an IFF bitmap file?  And have
>the server automatically loaded and purged when no longer needed?
>
>I need an extensible client/server mechanism like this & I sure haven't
>seen it anywhere. Remember the recent "Renderer" thread? I see it and
>this "A Conversion Utility for the Amiga" to be the same thing, as they
>address the same problems.
>
>I brought up this concept about 2 years ago specifically with regard to
>rendering 'devices'. My mailbox was flooded with messages explaining to
>me that there is absolutely no need for this type of thing on the Amiga
>so I shut up and listened. I still disagree, and I still need these
>types of operations since they still don't exist.

I absolutely positively don't want this thread to die. :)

As far as I am concerned this is the extensibility that ARexx promised, but
which is really beyond the means for it to deliver.

Why so many Amiga programmers continue to spit out boring MS-DOS/Mac-type
software is really beyond me.  As far as I can see, this is really where the
Amiga can shine far above it's competition.  Can you imagine kludging
Windows to do this?  In real time?  You've got a heartier imagination than
mine, in that case...

As far as I can see, this type of functionality is much like HyperLinks,
except I've only seen HyperLinks described for data, not for functions.
Correct me if I've misused, or appropriated the wrong terminology.

So besides increasing the modularity of programs, what does this offer?
 How about a Word Processor where you can choose the features you want?
 A spreadsheet that can connect itself to a Simplex Algo. Solver and
   come up with business decisions based on available data?
 A database with Postgres-like functionality?
 A fully integrated on-line Help service?
 A modular DTP system that you can build into a CAD package, or a WP
   package, depending on your needs.
 Scientific Applications by the dozens.

If there were 100hours to the day I'd be writing all of these.  As it is, I
haven't included my favorite, because I am writing it...

This goes beyond data sharing -- dynamic or otherwise.  More like a
program requesting certain functionality, and a SupremeServer trying to meet
those demands within the resources of the computer system at hand.  Connect
to a network, and everybody gets the *functionality* of each other's
programs -- not just the ability to use each other's data/programs.  Kind of
like instant integration, were one to believe it were possible.  I for one
do...

There are some technical difficulties for the general case.  I will be
working rather hard all summer to find and fix as many as possible, so 
STAY TUNED!

>Why don't we all go take another look at PPIPC and open minds a little?

What!  And ruin my chance to come to market first! Horrors! :)

> "What will happen to our memory now that we can keep it on paper?"

>From experience :: it gets shredded.
   see reference :: Iran Contra Hearings.


