porting linux programs and drivers to plan9

[Steve_Kilbane@cegelecproj.co.uk Steve_Kilbane@cegelecproj.co.uk]

> I'm an undergrad, need I say more?

Just a wild guess, but I'd say that there are probably more
academic organisations using Plan 9 than commercial ones (excluding
individuals who have their own copies). So, you should consider
extolling its virtues to your admin staff. Point out that forsyth's
FTP/Web server is running on a diskless Sun 3/60, and it wasn't too
long ago that his desktop machine was a 386 with - what? - 4MB? 8MB?
So, if they've got any old h/w kicking around that doesn't have the
energy for Linux or NT (manic laugh), Plan 9 may suit them.

> For others who don't have endless computers kicking around, if the
> pcdist had a free pppclient,

Plausible, but then, this is a demonstration system. I have to admit
that the easy of networking is one of the cooler aspects of Plan 9,
so a standalone demo seems a little strange. But what would you leave
out?

> a large documentation library,

Cough. Again, what would you leave out?

> and a
> commonly recognized editor (can we agree on microemacs?)

Uh, no. "commonly recognized" is a subjective term, and in this
particular context, so's "editor". Sam is as much a part of the
demonstration as everything else.

> plan 9 would
> not be as much of a shock to new users.

Some things do come as a shock; it's like a light being turned on.
"A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming is
not worth knowing."

> My interpretation of the license says that as long as I'm a "member" of
> an organization, meaning that I'm working towards the goals of that
> organization no matter my political or geographical position, I am
> included in the license agreement.

"working towards the goals of that organization" is a pretty dodgy
definition of "member". Recycling glass bottles doesn't make me a
member of Greenpeace.

If you're employed by a company that's got a licence, you can use
it. If you're a student at a university that's got a licence, you
can use it. Just sharing a common interest in Plan 9 doesn't
cover it.

The licence terms are extremely generous - enough so that it
seems ungrateful to stretch them too far through sophistry.

steve