Re: backward compatability of tools

[Chris Albertson]

Paul Eggert wrote:

Alex Hornby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

On a related note, does the restriction of not using shell functions in
autoconf macros still remain,

For Autoconf itself, we still avoid shell functions.  But of course
you can use shell functions in your own macros, if you don't care
about porting to shells that lack shell functions.

Personally I'm becoming more inclined to start using shell functions.
Perhaps in Autoconf 3.

have the OSs with such shells now gone the way of SunOS 4.x?

What do you mean "gone the way of SunOS 4.x"?

I set up a DNS and mail server on a Sun SPARC IPX ages ago at a place
I used to work at. The IPX has all of 32MB RAM and runs SunOS 4.x.
On such a low powered machine (20Mhz SPARC, I think) SunOS is perfect. And guess what?
"cc" the old K&R compiler, is still installed on that IPX too.
As I rememer, you need cc if ever you want to reconfigure some
variables in the kernel, say to adjust to size of shared memory pool.

I check from time to time and notice the DNS server is still running.
And I assume so is the mail server but there is a firewall blocking
port 25.

Will it run for 1000 years? We will never know but it's 10+ years
and still going.....