Topic: DOSLib

[Mark]

Thanks Dale Fugier!

http://wiki.mcneel.com/developer/doslib

[snownut2]

I've wondered how many folks use the DosLib functions in thier LISP routines ?

Are there any major drawbacks to doing so ?

It seems some of them would be quite useful.

Bruce

[Kerry]

I've been using DOSLIb for 12 or 14 years ... perhaps more ; and by extension so have those who have used my stuff.

Some people prefer not to use this sort of library, usually for reasons of perceived longevity limitations ... 

I have nothing but praise for Dales contribution to the industry.
The library is well supported , well documented and fully professional.

added:
And the developers are amenable to suggestions. 

And seeing Torsten log-in has reminded me that BricsCAD is supported as well.

[MP]

I've been using DOSLIb for 12 or 14 years ... perhaps more ; and by extension so have those who have used my stuff.

Some people prefer not to use this sort of library, usually for reasons of perceived longevity limitations ... 

I have nothing but praise for Dales contribution to the industry.
The library is well supported , well documented and fully professional.

added:
And the developers are amenable to suggestions. 

And seeing Torsten log-in has reminded me that BricsCAD is supported as well.

Well said, the only thing I'd change is the punctuation and white space. It's an outstanding library which Dale has given generously and selflessly to the CADD community for decades. While Dale has never asked for anything in return I think a great way to support and advocate its use would be a dedicated forum where folks could demonstrate different ways to exploit the great resource that it is.

tl;dr: I have no reservations using or recommending Dale's highly useful, professionally written library.

[Kerry]

 
At my time of life I'm beyond caring about punctuation ; and whitespace only concerns me for code.
There is a bit to be said for ambiguity , in it's place.

[rkmcswain]

Are there any major drawbacks to doing so ?

The only drawback I can think of would be if the product was discontinued and the source code not made available to others, then you might have a bunch of your own code that is dependent on some obsolete functions at some point down the road.

It seems some of them would be quite useful.

Agreed.

[MP]

The only drawback I can think of would be if the product was discontinued and the source code not made available to others ...

After the decades long tenure the library has enjoyed I have a hard time believing Dale would "discontinue the product" and bet he has willed the code to others to carry forth (or the public domain) if he should, ummm, vacate to an alternate dimension.

[rkmcswain]

After the decades long tenure the library has enjoyed I have a hard time believing Dale would "discontinue the product" and bet he has willed the code to others to carry forth (or the public domain) if he should, ummm, vacate to an alternate dimension.

I wasn't implying that it was imminent, just answering the question that I quoted.

[Bhull1985]

The only actual drawback I've come across in using these is that they're not included OOTB, requiring installs on any machines that wish to use any programs using any of these functions, if i'm correct in that.

The perceived discontinue seems unrealistic and is a terrible way to evaluate useful programs or libraries, or not-evaluate them, I should say....the world we live in today, technology comes, technology goes. The main determining factor in this is in fact the usefulness of the technology, seems backwards to deem them unworthy when their usefulness has kept them around for over a decade, apparently.

[Mark]

I am guessing no one noticed The Swamp under 'Resources' on that page.

[Matt__W]

I am guessing no one noticed The Swamp under 'Resources' on that page.

*feverishly waves hands*
I did!  The Swamp is getting more recognition (not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet). 

[Kerry]

Finger in the air ...