Re: LYNX-DEV Displaying graphics

[David Combs]

> From address@hidden Mon Feb  3 02:05:54 1997
> Date: Sun, 2 Feb 1997 17:03:50 -0500
> From: Richard Stallman <address@hidden>
> Subject: Re: LYNX-DEV Displaying graphics
> 
<snip>
> Isn't it much better to change the central Lynx distribution to
> recommend, as the default, a program which is free?
> 

Actually, isn't "xv" free, SORT OF.  Maybe the term is "free ware",
ie you grab it, try it, if you like it, you send in some money,
like $50, I think.

I've corresponded via email with the fellow who wrote it (I did
this a year or so ago), and his basic feeling was that withheld
the MANUAL.  If you wanted that you had to send him the money.

I think that pretty much EVERYONE has xv.

Where I got mine was off the O'Reilly book's CD "X User Tools".

I myself have NOT sent in any money -- but then I don't use the
package (I have nothing I want to look AT!).  But when I do want
to start using it, I will send in the money, get the (supposedly
excellent and large) manual, and let him make some money for
his excellent work.

Anyway, "xv" is surely in the grey area between "gnu-free"
and "commercial".

By the way, here is the latest (3feb95) xv readme:

-------


> Note:  3.10a mainly consists of bug fixes and portability enhancements to 
> 3.10.
> No new features to speak of.
> 
> ----- XV 3.10 Announcement -----
> 
> They said it couldn't be done.  They said it never *would* be done.
> They smiled knowingly to themselves as each predicted release date
> inevitably passed by, unmarked by the emergence of a new version...
> 
> Well, who asked them!  And who do they think they are, anyhow!?!
> 
> Announcing the Exciting New Release of XV, Version 3.10!
> 
> Finally, all the stuff you've been waiting for:  image cut & paste, pixel
> editing, text annotation (of a sort), nifty new algorithms, new image formats
> (Targa, XPM, FITS, XWD, IFF), improved schnauzing capabilities, a spiffy
> new 'pad' command, and whatnot.  Plenty of whatnot.
> 
> Of course, we're particularly proud of our Exclusive 3-D Fish Technology.
> 
> At the moment, you can get this decidedly 'fine' piece of software via
> anonymous ftp on the following sites:
> 
>    Hostname                     Directory
>    --------                     ---------
>    ftp.cis.upenn.edu:           pub/xv
>    ftp.upenn.edu:               data/bradley
>    ftp.duke.edu:                pub/archive/xv
> 
> The file is called 'xv-3.10.tar.gz' (or 'xv-3.10.tar.Z' if you don't have
> the 'gunzip' program).
> 
> BTW, if any of you fine folks can get these files put up on one of the major
> ftp sites (wustl, gatekeeper, etc.) please do so, and let me know!
> 
> Enjoy!
> 
> John Bradley
> 
> -------------------------
> Note:  These tar files (xv-3.10.tar.Z and xv-3.10.tar.gz) have been replaced
>   as of 12/22/94, as the initial ones wouldn't build correctly on VMS.
> 
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