Re: backward compatability of tools

[Chris Albertson <Christopher dot J dot Albertson at aero dot org>]

Paul Eggert wrote:
> Alex Hornby <alex at anvil dot com> writes:
>
>
> > On a related note, does the restriction of not using shell functions in
> > autoconf macros still remain,
>
>
> For Autoconf itself, we still avoid shell functions.  But of course
> you can use shell functions in your own macros, if you don't care
> about porting to shells that lack shell functions.
>
> Personally I'm becoming more inclined to start using shell functions.
> Perhaps in Autoconf 3.
>
>
> > have the OSs with such shells now gone the way of SunOS 4.x?

What do you mean "gone the way of SunOS 4.x"?

I set up a DNS and mail server on a Sun SPARC IPX ages ago at a place
I used to work at.  The IPX has all of 32MB RAM and runs SunOS 4.x.
On such a low powered machine (20Mhz SPARC, I think) SunOS is perfect. 
 And guess what?
"cc" the old K&R compiler, is still installed on that IPX too.
As I rememer, you need cc if ever you want to reconfigure some
variables in the kernel, say to adjust to size of shared memory pool.

I check from time to time and notice the DNS server is still running.
And I assume so is the mail server but there is a firewall blocking
port 25.

Will it run for 1000 years?  We will never know but it's 10+ years
and still going.....


>