[TUHS] Re: Was curses ported to Seventh Edition Unix?

["G. Branden Robinson" <g.branden.robinson@gmail.com>]

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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

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