Re: dsktool.rb and Ruby Questions

["Bill Buckels" <bbuckels@mts.net>]

"jonnosan" <jonnosan@gmail.com> wrote in message 
252d75cf-d809-45f9-b241-f9bc2d07ca34@g1g2000pra.googlegroups.com">news:252d75cf-d809-45f9-b241-f9bc2d07ca34@g1g2000pra.googlegroups.com...
>If I'd got the build instructions correct, then the ruby runtime would have 
>automatically detected the dependancy and downloaded and installed it when 
>you did the 'gem install dsktool' command.

So if I was to build a project in ruby like dskexplorer.rb that runs in a 
web browser, and my dependencies were properly set, then gem would take care 
of the rest?

And does ruby support input forms of some sort? If so would it be possible 
to extend dskexplorer.rb to use dropdown lists and provide a point and click 
interface to dsktool.rb's routines?

>I will probably do a new build that fixes the dependancy up.

Is it difficult or does a person just need to untar data and metadata and do 
something with it? Te learning curve would seem to be quite steep. You have 
464 files in dsktool-0.5.1 To me this is reminiscent of a perl cgi project 
or a tcl application more than a java application, and it also seems that a 
person would need  a fountain of knowledge and a well of experience to 
function as a ruby developer. The task of doing anything like this indicates 
a dedicated time investment in ruby. Even to extend what you have done would 
require this. Your project is readable only at a high level for anyone who 
does not know ruby and who is not your equal on disk image formats and file 
systems for these old computers.

I do see the dependency in your METADATA. Does this mean that whatever you 
used to build and package all this checked your local ruby before it detects 
dependencies or is this something you do by hand? Obviously I would need to 
research this further to talk further about it.

>That would probably be the last dsktool release though, as I've started 
>working on a new ruby library (called ripxplore) that covers file systems 
>for more platformas than just the Apple (currently C64, 8 bit TRS-80, 8 bit 
>Atari, TI-99/4a) however that new library is read-only. (the primary use 
>case for it is 'peekbot - http://peekbot.jamtronix.com which is a website 
>that lets you browseonline disk archives)

I am overwhelmed with the number of files here. I'll need to have a peek at 
peekbot whn I am less overwhelmed.

So by what you say, dsktool.rb will remain readonly for Apple CP/M disks? Or 
is this case?

Bill