From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_DATE autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!decwrl!ucbvax!grebyn.com!karl From: karl@grebyn.com (Karl Nyberg) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Administrative: How Info-Ada Works Message-ID: <8912161834.AA01821@grebyn.com> Date: 16 Dec 89 18:34:54 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet List-Id: Since several people have asked... Info-Ada is a digest form electronic mailing list. It is bidirectionally gatewayed with the usenet newsgroup comp.lang.ada, on which the articles appear in an individual form. The mailing address to use to submit messages for inclusion in the digest (and for forwarding to the newsgroup) is info-ada@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu. The mailing address to use for administrative matters (change my address, mail me this back issue, etc.) is info-ada-REQUEST@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu (capitalization only for emphasis of the difference). Mail for the digest gets forwarded to wsmr-simtel20.army.mil (because the ajpo.sei.cmu.edu machine, being only a microvax II, can't handle the load). (Arriving mail there is also immediately forwarded to berkeley.edu, which is responsible for forwarding to the usenet side.) A couple times during the day a process there looks to see how much stuff is in the queue. Based upon certain size criteria, a digest is created and distributed. This is all done automagically. One of the things that the digesting software does is to edit the header of the digest to specify that replies are to be sent to info-ada-REQUEST@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu, so that any mail system errors are NOT forwarded back to the mailing list to annoy everybody (this has happened in the past...). (Precautions are also taken to ensure that a message doesn't go 'round and 'round between the two sides (usenet & mailing list) by special tagging at the gateways.) Unfortunately, some folks use a mail reader that generates the -REQUEST address when they attempt to reply to a message. In those cases, I (since I currently get all info-ada-request mail) simply return the message to them and point them to the appropriate address for submission. Since some folks see only the digested form, this can also account for their confusion when they see a thread of discussion take place within a single digest before they even had a chance to see the article that originated the material. My role is as the person who administers all this, chases down bad e-mail addresses, updates the mailing list, etc. The AJPO (ALL CAPS) has supported my participation in this effort for the past 8 years by providing me access to their computer resources (over the years - ECLB, ISIF, ada20.isi.edu, ajpo.sei.cmu.edu), and allowing me to work with the systems support staff at these places to provide this facility. A previous AJPO administration issued the following directive on use of info-ada: info-ada is sponsored by the AJPO to support the promotion and introduction of Ada throughout the Department of Defense (DoD) and the industries supporting DoD. Its primary emphasis is on information exchange among the members subscribing to the mailing list. In order to further facilitate that exchange of information, a bidirectional link between info-ada and the USENET newsgroup comp.lang.ada (formerly net.lang.ada) has been created. The AJPO guidance on the use of info-ada is to strive to keep it for fair usage. This means that no one should take advantage of it for commercial marketing or promotion of any product, company, service, institution, organization, etc. The desire is to avoid any bias (express or implied) on the part of the government with regard to endorsing or showing favoritism to any particular entity. Authoritative, informative, non-commercial messages are considered acceptable. info-ada is normally automatically redistributed without any moderation or censoring. This is the preferred mode of operation. This mode of operation is dependent upon those making submissions to follow the above guidance. The AJPO welcomes any further suggestions and comments on the use and operation of info-ada. Please direct such messages to the administrator of info-ada via info-ada-request@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu. I have attempted to ensure that the policy regarding non-commercialism is reasonably enforced (I have not, and I will not, perform censorship on any other basis). Unfortunately, since I do not specifically MODERATE the material that is included in a digest, nor am I able to monitor each and every article in a timely manner (that's life with volunteer labor!) I am often unable to catch something before it gets included in a distribution. A number of people have requested that this approach be taken. Within the constraints of my current obligations, particularly with the Ada 9X language revision, I am unable to provide the level of effort that this approach would require. I have approached a number of individuals concerning their participation in taking over such an effort and would be glad to talk with anyone else who is interested (and has been patient enough to read this far in my message!). -- Karl -- Karl A. Nyberg karl@grebyn.com, nyberg@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu Grebyn Corporation karl%grebyn.com@haven.umd.edu Post Office Box 497 {decuac,haven}!grebyn!karl Vienna, VA 22183-0497 USA +1-703-281-2194