ARexx
14 messages in this thread
I would hope that the shell that Bill would write would be similar to Matt
Dillon's CSH, yet use the ARexx commands. Rather than have a multitude fo
different command sets, I would really appreciate a common commnad list.
Perhaps this would allow ARexx commands to be modified and used from within the
shell, instead of calling for a separate batch command file. Perhaps I am
wrong (only Bill knows for sure)!
-RSL-
Roy,
I don't think Bill's shell will be anything at all like Csh, and for the very
reason you mentioned, to prevent a multitude of different comamnd sets. While
you like and use Csh, many don't. I can't speak for everyone who doesn't use
it, but my readon is that it doesn't do Amigados wildcards. I hate having to
think about every command and decide which wildcard to use.
I use and lik eUnix and Amigados, and feel that both have their advantages. I
will alow anyone their preferences, but will vehemently resist anny attempt to
force me to use 'non-native' commands, syntax, etc. on either.
Regards, Larry.
Larry,
I hope that his shell is powerful like CSH. It doesn't need to have
non-Amiga DOS wildcarding (or it could make it optional). Do you know the
extent of the purpose of Bill's shell? I would ask Bill, but he hasn't
responded to my last question.
-RSL-
Roy,
So far, Bil's shell supports command aliasing, resident programs, a unique
'implicit' cd command, prompt string variables, pipes, and fully transparent
support for ARexx programs, which makes it easy to extend the language in ways
that would range from difficult to impossible with Csh.
Regards, Larry.
Larry,
Sounds good! I can't wait until Bill finishes up placing the finishing
touches on his shell! I understand that its ETA is february.
-RSL-
Roy,
yes, the shell is due in February.
Regards, Larry.
Larry,
Do you know if Bill intends to include it in the package already
advertised for $49.95, or will be considered another ARexx utility, and will be
sold separately for an additional sum?
-RSL-
Roy,
The shell will be included with the ARexx package, as well as being available
separately.
Regards, Larry.
Great to hear. I look forward to getting it in February!
-RSL-
So far the shell will be sold as a separate program – they are independent, and
you don't need AREXX to use the shell or vice versa. I suspect if a lot more
people say they'll buy the combination than would buy either individually, Bill
might be convinced to bundle them together.
From what I've seen, Bill doesn't want to replace the CLI commands with builtin
things – rather, the shell is intended to provide better functionality as an
EXEC controller. He handles a few things like CD and PROMPT internally, but
mostly just wants to provide a better control.
Larry:
The shell does allow you to use all of the Ami's native commands but
does not allow them to be used with its internal commands. I have to agree
with what you say though since the more 'unix like' the better I like it is not
sufficient reason to foist it off on everyone else. Man that 'blew me away'
when I first saw what Ami Dos considered to be a wild card!
Happy New Year, bill
Bill,
It is every bit as repugnant to me to use '*' as a wildcard on the Amiga as
it is to alias dir ls on my Sun. <grin>
Regards, Larry.
You can specify REXX macros in the shell's command line, makes for really nice
filtering of piped inputs etc. If programs don't like each other's gozintas
and gozoutas, you can put together a quick REXX exec to process it.