[PLUG] Emacs Question

Rich Shepard rshepard at appl-ecosys.com
Fri Nov 2 13:15:13 UTC 2007


On Fri, 2 Nov 2007, kurt braget wrote:

> I think it's cuz you're not using vi.

   In 1979 I wrote my dissertation using TDP (Text and Document Processor) on
a HP-3000 minicomputer. This was (is?) a line-oriented editor with a short
line length that required users to end each line with the [Enter] key or the
excess was truncated. To add text, one positioned the cursor at the desired
place and pressed the 'a' key. To modify text, one used the 'm' key; to
insert, 'i' key and so on. It was an extreme PITA, but better than an
electric typewriter, especially when committee mandated changes had to be
made. Every time I have to use vi I'm reminded of this primative editing
tool.

   The output device was also different from what we're used to using today.
It was an IBM Diablo electronic printer; essentially an electric typewriter
fed by the TDP system. One had to stand there and roll in a new page by hand
-- just as with a regular typewriter -- before pressing the [Enter] key to
print that one page. Of course, it was fun watching it print in both
directions, but the amusement faded quickly with a multi-hundred page
document that needed multiple copies.

   So, you stick with vi and I'll stick with emacs.

Rich

-- 
Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D.               |    The Environmental Permitting
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc.        |         Accelerators(TM)
<http://www.appl-ecosys.com>     Voice: 503-667-4517      Fax: 503-667-8863



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