> It seems cyg_win_ was designed to add POSIX and unix compatibility > and functionality to the _Win_ environment with the intent of making > things _easier_ (Easy is good -- not everyone can be a master of > every technology). So why not make things easier for perl scripters > as well by starting with a perl that is unix (works with cpan, > handles paths with "//", "/") and win (paths handle "\\", ":" and > "\\\\" and define WinNT) compatible?
I can't bring up the cygwin site right now for some reason, so I'll go off memory. I do succinctly remember cgf being asked about cygwin "making things easier" and he very clearly stated THAT WAS NOT THE GOAL. The goal was to make a POSIX COMPATIBLE layer for Microsoft Windows Platforms. PERIOD. There is no other goal, focus or mission. At least *that* is what I took from his statements. This discussion is in the archives somewhere. I don't think anyone would argue that "making things easier" is a good thing to strive for - but that in fact is a much *bigger* and *loftier* goal than the one defined for the cygwin project. Cygwin is still a *relatively* new animal and there isn't a big enough cross-over user base wanting hybrid capability to stimulate many developers into working more towards this goal. The fact that libwin32 got ported is proof that such desire *does* exist and that things are *beginning* to move in this direction - but one must have patience!!! Furthermore, the changes needed were introduced into the modules themselves, NOT the cygwin1.dll. (At least, that's my possibly errant understanding). cgf and crew have enough challenge right now just getting the *POSIX* thing right. When that task is someday finished - maybe they too will be inspired to *up the ante*. And I for one completely understand their lack of desire for doing it *now*. Brian Kelly "WellChoice, Inc." made the following annotations on 02/19/2004 03:41:10 PM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Attention! This electronic message contains information that may be legally confidential and/or privileged. The information is intended solely for the individual or entity named above and access by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please reply immediately to the sender that you have received the message in error, and delete it. Release/Disclosure Statement -- Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple Problem reports: http://cygwin.com/problems.html Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/