Re: GNU ex (an enhanced version of GNU ed)

[Bob Proulx]

John Cowan wrote:
> There are four dominant 'vi' implementations: 'nvi' has an excellent
> 'ex', but depends on an obsolete version of Berkeley DB that makes
> it difficult to port.

Not to detract from your quest to further progress on 'ex', an
admirable cause btw, but could you expand on the difficulties you
encountered with nvi and db?  I thought that worked.

In order to verify for me that nvi could build from source I just now
recompiled both db-1.85 and nvi-1.79 from source on my amd64 machine
in 64-bit mode.  Everything went fine.  I used the Debian sources.

> I freely admit it: I am an 'ex' troglodyte.

I used 'qed' extensively in the old days.  I still consider myself
'ed' fluent.  I prefer 'nvi' over other clones because nvi is truly
more classic vi compatible and the 'vim' differences chafe on me.
Although normally I compose in emacs as my preferred editor.  But I
use both on a daily basis.  Your comment on nvi hooked me into
responding.

Bob