The PHOENIX Project

[tombo@mail.on-line.co.uk (Richard King)]

As some readers will know, I have been trying to start a movement to
'resurrect' two programs, namely 'GeneSys' and/or 'Foundation' (the
Resource editors), which I think are so important to the GS that we must
do everything we can to preserve them.
 
I have just received the following message from Mike Westerfield at
ByteWorks:-
 
*** From: mikew50@aol.com       <------- Byteworks email address
*** Subject: Re: The PHOENIX Project
*** Date: Fri, 11 Mar 94 14:52:08 EST
***
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*** I don't have the time to put a lot of effort into revamping 
*** an older program, and as I understand it, the original authors 
*** are not interested, an are, in fact, sort of at odds with each 
*** other. If some other programmer was willing to put the effort 
*** into updating the program, and had clear copyright ownership, 
*** I'd be interested in looking the product over carefully. I would 
*** look for:
 
*** 1.  Completeness, including support for System 6.0.1 and
ORCA/Modula-2.
*** 2.  Lots of examples and templates.
*** 3.  A good mailing list of the owners of the original program.
*** 4.  A good bug list.
*** 5.  A fantastic, tutorial style manual. This part I _might_ help 
***     with if the other problems were solved.
 
*** To be fair, I would also chat with the author of Design Master 
*** first. I don't foresee a problem there, but I would not commit 
*** to taking over Genesys without talking it over with C.K. first.
 
*** If you want to track down this information, let me know.
 
*** Mike Westerfield
 
This is a clear indication that, given some assistance and encouragement,
the ByteWorks could be persuaded to take it on. Two things now need to be
done: an email campaign directed to the ByteWorks, to demonstrate the
level of interest, and detective work to locate the original authors of
GeneSys and the former staff of SSSi, prior to negotiating a reassignment
of the program. 
 
As a way of giving this enterprise an identity, I'm calling it the
'Phoenix Project', and in the initial stages, I am prepared to act as a
coordinator. I would propose to collect names of interested parties,
together with their specific degree of interest or involvement, and to
circulate the list within the circle of those involved. The ultimate
purpose of the information gathered would be to locate those persons best
suited to tackling the points which Mike Westerfield mentions in his
message.
 
At a later date, programmers and testers will probably be required, since
it appears that the original authors of GeneSys would not wish to
undertake the work themselves.
 
Even if you aren't a programmer, and would normally have no direct use or
need for GeneSys, your support is still valuable - after all, if you want
the programmers to continue writing new and useful programs, they'll need
GeneSys to do it with.
 
Please post responses and comments under this heading, or email me and I
will add your name to the list of 'associates'. When the 'Phoenix
Project' has achieved its objective, it would doubtless be possible to
undertake other 'rescue missions', so let's get this one rolling, and
prove that we can do it!
 
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For information on the 'Phoenix Project', and how you can get involved &
help it, 
send email to :- tombo@mail.on-line.co.uk, using the word 'PHOENIX' in
the heading
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