Re: [Gm2] GNU Modula-2 version 1.0

[Fischlin Andreas]

Dear Gaius,

I see. Indeed, the gm2 home needs definitely a clear and obvious link to this 
documentation offered at http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/gm2.html. Maybe there is 
somewhere a "hidden" link  to this most useful documentation, but I couldn't 
find it, a pity. The gm2 home definitely needs a conspicuous link to this. Ok, 
I found it! I suggest to rewrite the page under documentation as follows:

The GNU Modula-2 <a href="gm2.html">Manual</a> (<a 
href="http://floppsie.comp.glam.ac.uk/download/m2/gm2.pdf";>pdf</a>) contains a 
fully indexed release map, downloading and building instructions, compiler and 
language implementation description, and lists all definition modules from the 
offered libraries.

However, what struck me also, is that http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/gm2.html seems 
not to have a link back to the gm2 home at http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/. How 
come? I guess this needs fixing too.

In addition I still believe to achieve some balance relative to other platforms 
there is also a need for some reform at the gm2 home. The goal is enhanced 
clarity. The current index is:

GNU Modula-2 
Features<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-1.html#GNU%20Modula-2%20Features>
Licence<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-2.html#Licence>
Documentation<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-3.html#Documentation>
Regression tests for gm2-1.0.1 in the 
CVS<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-4.html#Regression%20tests%20for%20gm2-1.0.1%20in%20the%20CVS>
Limitations<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-5.html#Limitations>
Building GNU 
Modula-2<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-6.html#Building%20GNU%20Modula-2>
GM2 development download via 
CVS<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-7.html#GM2%20development%20download%20via%20CVS>
GNU Modula-2 Debian 
binaries<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-8.html#GNU%20Modula-2%20Debian%20binaries>
Creating a deb package for GNU 
Modula-2<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-9.html#Creating%20a%20deb%20package%20for%20GNU%20Modula-2>
GM2 and GCC tarball 
download<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-10.html#GM2%20and%20GCC%20tarball%20download>
Contributing code<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-11.html#Contributing%20code>
Objectives<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-12.html#Objectives>
FAQ<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-13.html#FAQ>
Mailing list<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-14.html#Mailing%20list>
Papers and talks<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-16.html#Papers%20and%20talks>

<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-16.html#Papers%20and%20talks>Why not having a 
page describing availability of gm2 by listing all platforms and then directing 
from there to the various platform specific help pages and add clarity with a 
structure similar to this:

Objectives<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-12.html#Objectives>
GNU Modula-2 
Features<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-1.html#GNU%20Modula-2%20Features>
<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-2.html#Licence><http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-16.html#Papers%20and%20talks>Limitations<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-5.html#Limitations>
Licence
Documentation<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-3.html#Documentation>
<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-3.html#Documentation>Platforms and Availability
Downloading
Building GNU 
Modula-2<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-6.html#Building%20GNU%20Modula-2>
<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-11.html#Contributing%20code><http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-16.html#Papers%20and%20talks>Regression
 tests for gm2-1.0.1 in the 
CVS<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-4.html#Regression%20tests%20for%20gm2-1.0.1%20in%20the%20CVS>
Contributing code
FAQ<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-13.html#FAQ>
Mailing list<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-14.html#Mailing%20list>
Papers and talks<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-16.html#Papers%20and%20talks>
<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-16.html#Papers%20and%20talks>
Other languages for 
GCC<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-15.html#Other%20languages%20for%20GCC>

The current pages offered via links "GM2 development download via 
CVS<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-7.html#GM2%20development%20download%20via%20CVS>",
 "GNU Modula-2 Debian 
binaries<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-8.html#GNU%20Modula-2%20Debian%20binaries>",
 "Creating a deb package for GNU 
Modula-2<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-9.html#Creating%20a%20deb%20package%20for%20GNU%20Modula-2>",
 and "GM2 and GCC tarball 
download<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-10.html#GM2%20and%20GCC%20tarball%20download>"
 are too special to be offered at this top level and should only be offered 
under the new page "Downloading". That page should be structured according to 
the page "Platforms and Availability" (same sequence). It a first general 
section I would offer links to "GM2 development download via 
CVS<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-7.html#GM2%20development%20download%20via%20CVS>"
 and "GM2 and GCC tarball 
download<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-10.html#GM2%20and%20GCC%20tarball%20download>"
 and then offer platform specific links under each supported platform. List the 
platform even if no special page is available, since at least some reference 
can be made to the relevant manual section, e.g. in case of Mac OS X. The 
platform specific pages "GNU Modula-2 Debian 
binaries<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-8.html#GNU%20Modula-2%20Debian%20binaries>"
 and "Creating a deb package for GNU 
Modula-2<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-9.html#Creating%20a%20deb%20package%20for%20GNU%20Modula-2>"
 are only made available in the Debian specific section.

In general I find much of the language in the individual current web sites a 
bit confusing. E.g.:

Building GNU 
Modula-2<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-6.html#Building%20GNU%20Modula-2>

<http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index-6.html#Building%20GNU%20Modula-2>Rather than 
duplicate building instructions here, please see the Obtaining GNU Modula-2 
section in the gm2 texinfo documentation which matches the CVS.

Why not

Rather than duplicate building instructions here, please see section "<a 
href="gm2.html#SEC32">Obtaining GNU Modula-2</a>" in the <a href="gm2.html">gm2 
manual</a>.

Hope having a bit contributed to the X-mas gift.

Regards,
Andreas


ETH Zurich
Prof. Dr. Andreas Fischlin
Systems Ecology - Institute of Integrative Biology
CHN E 21.1
Universitaetstrasse 16
8092 Zurich
SWITZERLAND

address@hidden<mailto:address@hidden>
www.sysecol.ethz.ch<http://www.sysecol.ethz.ch>

+41 44 633-6090 phone
+41 44 633-1136 fax
+41 79 221-4657 mobile

             Make it as simple as possible, but distrust it!
________________________________________________________________________



On 13/Dec/2010, at 10:03 , Gaius Mulley wrote:

"Fischlin  Andreas" <address@hidden<mailto:address@hidden>> writes:

Dear Gaius,

Just returned from exhaustive climate change negotiations in Cancun, Mexico, I 
wish to express my gratitude and congratulate you and all those who have 
contributed to this success! A nice christmas gift. :-)

I have only one question: Given the current documentation on the web, i.e. 
http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/index.html, I do not understand how the MacPorts 
build should work. There is a page "GNU Modula-2 Debian binaries" and "Creating 
a deb package for GNU Modula-2", but I couldn't find anything similar for OS X. 
Have I overlooked this or is there really no page explaining how to build under 
OS X? And how about Solaris?

I guess it wouldn't need much effort to give some hints how to
accomplish building gm2 on those platforms, regardless whether some
regression tests fail or not. To help the community of those platforms
need help.


But most of all once more: Muchas gracias!

Regards,
Andreas

Hi Andreas,

There is some documentation in:

http://www.nongnu.org/gm2/gm2.html
  2.8 Building GNU Modula-2 under Mac OSX

as it is a little hidden I'll provide a link to this on the main
webpage.

Also John could you email me your Solaris configure and I'll add this
to the documentation as well?

regards,
Gaius