News item: Sun Solaris 2.8 OE to include a2ps

[Nelson H. F. Beebe]

a2ps should get expanded visibility: this announcement just came in
from our local Sun representative: notice the second to last line,
listing a2ps as an included product:

>> ...
>> This release of the Solaris 8 OE updates customers with additional
>> capabilities over previous releases. Solaris 8 2/02 has increased Linux
>> Compatibility making it easier to deploy Linux applications. The 
>> iPlanet Advantage software bundle includes the addition of a license 
>> for iPlanet (TM) Integration Server EAI (Enterprise Application Integration) 
>> Edition 3.0 providing the capability for access to legacy applications as 
>> web services.  Solaris 8 2/02 has added globalization support and 
>> accessibility packages for the visually impaired.
>> 
>> Highlights include:
>> 
>> (1) Increased Compatibility with Linux
>> 
>> Sun reaffirms its commitment to the Open Source Community by offering
>> additional tools and by updating existing open source packages with each
>> Solaris OE update release, ensuring users have access to up-to-date 
>> versions of their favorite Linux applications. This latest update of 
>> Solaris offers nine new freeware packages that enhance various 
>> functionality of the Solaris OE:
>> 
>>      Database: MySQL
>>      Technical/SysAdmin applications: nmap, Ruby, rpm, Zebra, a2ps
>>      Desktop applications: gphoto, WindowMaker, KOffice
>> ...

In particular, this suggests that a2ps developers need to be in
contact with Sun developers to ensure that the latest stable version
of a2ps is distributed.  I raise this point, because Novell a few
months ago open sourced a number of AT&T UNIX products, but after
downloading them, we found that in some cases, they were years out of
date from what is available elsewhere.

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- Nelson H. F. Beebe                    Tel: +1 801 581 5254                  -
- Center for Scientific Computing       FAX: +1 801 585 1640, +1 801 581 4148 -
- University of Utah                    Internet e-mail: address@hidden  -
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