Re: Apple2 archive at grind.isca.uiowa.edu

[nparker@cie.uoregon.edu (Neil Parker)]

In article <284pjfINN9sg@srvr1.engin.umich.edu> dmag@engin.umich.edu (Daniel
Demaggio ) writes:
>Questions:
>1) Which do you want?
>   A) indexes for each subdirectory
>   B) indexes (i.e. foobar.txt) for each file
>   C) one global index

In the interest of not cluttering up the directory more than it needs to
be, I vote in favor of an index for each subdirectory.  One for each file
would be too many (unless it's done like f.ms.uky.edu, with a separate
"Desc" subdirectory in each directory), and a single global index would be
much too large to be convenient.

An index in each subdirectory is convenient if you're browsing to see
what's available.

>2) Do you want
>   A) BSQ files only
>   B) SHK files only
>   C) Both SHK & BSQ in same directory
>   D) Both SHK & BSQ in seperate trees

I vote for A or B.  If you put up both the BSQ and SHK files, you'll use up
twice as much disk space.  (I admit this isn't a particularly pressing
issue with the gigabyte drive on grind, but we should probably remember
that Murphy's Law applies:  No matter how much space you have, someday
you'll need more.)

In the name of saving disk space, I favor SHK files, though this could be a
problem for people who have trouble with binary FTPs or who need to
download in small pieces.  (Perhaps a mail server could be written that
could be commanded to wrap files up in BinSCII and mail them out in handy
bite-sized pieces?)

>3) Should the archive have:
>   A) 16 char filenames for all files
>   B) longer filenames (i.e. more descriptive)

My opinions are mixed on this.  Shorter file names are much more convenient
to type, but long descriptive names make it much easier for browsers (like
me) to figure out what's in the file.

A well-maintained index file would resolve my indecision in favor of short
names.

               - Neil Parker (who is costing the net hundreds if not
                 thousands of dollars to post his two cents' worth...)
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