25 May
2024
25 May
'24
4:25 p.m.
Hi Clem,
At 2024-05-25T12:14:10-0400, Clem Cole wrote:
Ouch -- there was no licensing issue with [BSD] curses
or termcap.
Right. I wasn't trying to imply otherwise. That's why Pavel Curtis
could use BSD curses as a basis for his pcurses.
It is only System V curses that was encumbered. And now it too is
available for inspection, if in a somewhat gray area for anyone with
commercial ambitions.
termcap and curses were written at UCB.
Agreed. I've seen no claim anywhere to the contrary.
When MaryAnn went to Columbus - there was desire to
rewrite to be
"compiled". That work was terminfo. AT&T >>restricted<<
terminfo.
Yes. This too is my understanding. terminfo is a better API (and
source format) than termcap, but I also surmise that better support for
deployment environments with large "fleets" of video terminals was also
seen by AT&T management as an enticing prospect for vendor lock-in.
Pavel (with coaching from a few of us, including me],
wrote a new
implementation of terminfo. When he was added it, he combined a
rewrite of curses.
Thank you for the confirmation. And for supplying some coaching all
those years ago--we're still enjoying the benefits today!
Regards,
Branden