From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Message-ID: <2e4a50a0705041308l35428c44w2e16f8d26a72a22f@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Fri,  4 May 2007 13:08:35 -0700
From: "Tom Simons" <tom.simons@gmail.com>
To: "Fans of the OS Plan 9 from Bell Labs" <9fans@cse.psu.edu>
Subject: Re: [9fans] rio & acme & plan9
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I have had trouble getting a handle on Plan9.  I got it working on an
old PC, but didn't understand if I had a file server, cpu server,
terminal, or all 3.  The screens looked great, but I never quite got
the hang of using it.  Can Rio/Acme run under Windows or Linux?  I'd
love to give it another shot. Must/should you have separate file/cpu
servers?

I also really would like to see an SF-bay meeting, if only to see
Plan9 in action. I've been using command-line interfaces since
teletypes & 026 keypunches, and I remain convinced that I could learn
another one.

>
> I've been trying to think of ways to evangelize rio and acme.  It's a
> tough sell - there is no "new user" subset.
> In particular, to be at all effective with rio (and especially acme)
> you need to be a capable command-line user and understand how to
> compose those primitives.  This means that no beginner will be able
> to pick up our beloved interface and get work done, even after giving
> them the 3-button low-down.  There just aren't any training wheels,
> and these days even expert users use the training wheels when in
> parts of the system they aren't familiar with.
>
> I think it's a losing battle.
>
> Paul
>