Subject: [LM] Re: Link History Hack
From: Ben Darnell (bgdarnel@unity.ncsu.edu)
Date: Sat Aug 21 1999 - 23:00:16 EDT
On Sat, Aug 21, 1999 at 07:11:24PM -0700, mblevin@debian.org wrote:
> So, I started mentally massaging the search code into DiddleBug, but
> then a great idea struck me... Since I was going to support LinkMaster
> anyway, why not just make a proxy app (like you are suggesting) that
> implements this search. This would be great for both DiddleBug and
> LinkMaster, since we wouldn't need to duplicate the code for it.
>
> So, I started over and started mentally massaging the search code into
> a LinkMaster proxy application. But the details were bothering me.
> First, LinkMaster takes too long to bring up the first screen. On my
> Palm with 2Megs (almost full), it takes a good 1-1.5 second delay when
> starting LinkMaster. No problem, I can just change LinkMaster to cache
> the link-aware app list, possibly refreshing on a SyncNotify and also
> on a "miss" if you try to jump to an app that has been deleted. This
> would avoid having LinkMaster search through every 'appl' resource
> database for the LINK resource, which is where all the cpu-time is
> being chewed up.
A very good idea, except that SyncNotify won't work (it is sent when a
conduit modifies a database, not on every sync). The only way to really
get this to work is to put a "Refresh app list" button on the form.
> Granted, it would also be possible to implement a dual-interface with
> a Search proxy app, one to interface with LinkMaster, and another that
> works through subcalls directly from DiddleBug (or any other app that
> wants to implement it). But I think I dismissed this idea mainly out
> of selfishness. I did not want to have to explain to users that
> (on top of all the IntelliBooger plugins), that they would have to
> install LinkMaster AND the LinkMaster Searching Proxy App. It seemed
> more intuitive and natural just to say... "If you want links to work,
> install LinkMaster".
I think the dual-interface proxy is the best solution. As for confusing
the users, the Search Proxy could be included in the main distribution,
so it would not be a separate download. LinkMaster is a growing suite
of .prcs, and users will just have to either figure out which ones they
want or just install them all (installing them all is probably the best
bet, as they are all rather useful and quite small). You still say "If
you want links to work, install LinkMaster", and LinkMaster says "If you
want to link to the datebook, install proxydb.prc; if you want to link
to any app that supports the Find command install proxysearch.prc..."
-Ben
-- Ben Darnell bgdarnel@unity.ncsu.edu http://www4.ncsu.edu/~bgdarnel/thoughtstream------------------------------------------------------------------------ MyPoints-Free Rewards When You're Online. Start with up to 150 Points for joining! http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/805
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