DOC HOME SITE MAP MAN PAGES GNU INFO SEARCH
 

(gettext.info.gz) Temp catgets

Info Catalog (gettext.info.gz) Temp Implementations (gettext.info.gz) Temp Programmers (gettext.info.gz) Temp WSI
 
 11.6.2 Temporary - About `catgets'
 ----------------------------------
 
 There have been a few discussions of late on the use of `catgets' as a
 base.  I think it important to present both sides of the argument and
 hence am opting to play devil's advocate for a little bit.
 
    I'll not deny the fact that `catgets' could have been designed a lot
 better.  It currently has quite a number of limitations and these have
 already been pointed out.
 
    However there is a great deal to be said for consistency and
 standardization.  A common recurring problem when writing Unix software
 is the myriad portability problems across Unix platforms.  It seems as
 if every Unix vendor had a look at the operating system and found parts
 they could improve upon.  Undoubtedly, these modifications are probably
 innovative and solve real problems.  However, software developers have
 a hard time keeping up with all these changes across so many platforms.
 
    And this has prompted the Unix vendors to begin to standardize their
 systems.  Hence the impetus for Spec1170.  Every major Unix vendor has
 committed to supporting this standard and every Unix software developer
 waits with glee the day they can write software to this standard and
 simply recompile (without having to use autoconf) across different
 platforms.
 
    As I understand it, Spec1170 is roughly based upon version 4 of the
 X/Open Portability Guidelines (XPG4).  Because `catgets' and friends
 are defined in XPG4, I'm led to believe that `catgets' is a part of
 Spec1170 and hence will become a standardized component of all Unix
 systems.
 
Info Catalog (gettext.info.gz) Temp Implementations (gettext.info.gz) Temp Programmers (gettext.info.gz) Temp WSI
automatically generated byinfo2html