Lyrics server

[dbx@olympic.atmos.colostate.edu (Doug Burks)]

Greeting,
     The subject of the lyrics server pops up at regular intervals in this
group, so I thought that the following post to another newsgroup might be
of interest.  In short, it notes that the lyrics server is currently down
and appeals for volunteer programmers to help revive and improve it.  [I
cleaned up the news headers to shorten it up a bit.]

>>>>  Included post follows

Article: 11961 of comp.lang.c++
From: fierro@uts.amdahl.com (Doug Fierro)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.lang.c++,comp.protocols.misc,comp.protocols.tcp-ip,comp.databases
Subject: volunteers requested for server project
Date: 7 May 91 18:11:05 GMT
Reply-To: fierro@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (Doug Fierro)

  This is a request for volunteers to work on a server project that
will be used by USENET.  There used to be a sever at UMass affectionately
known as the lyrics server which was used to retrieve/contribute lyrics of
any kind.  It has been down for some time now, and there is an effort
underway to revive it and also improve the performance and features it
will offer.

  This project touches a lot of areas, like databases, C++, protocols,
and UNIX stuff.  It would be good for a resume, or even if you want 
something to do over the summer.  The whole world would use this server
once it is complete (no joke!).

  People interested should contact Niall Emmart at 

   Niall.Emmart@saturn.ucc.umass.edu

All questions/suggestions/etc. should go directly to him.  I'm just sort
of the facilitator/coordinator.  You can still contribute to the design
specs. since I don't think actual coding has begun yet.  Below is mail
I recieved from Niall which outlines the project.

  Thank you for your time,


  Doug

********************************************
>Date: Tue, 7 May 91 10:30:50 -0400
>From: apple!saturn.ucc.umass.edu!Niall.Emmart
>Subject: The Lyrics Server
>To: amdahl!fierro@apple.com
>
>Hello..
>   I got both of your messages (The test message and the one forwarded
>from Judy). I have already gotten one reply from the net. From
>Afoiani@NMSU.edu. Thanks for your help...
>
>   Niall Emmart
>
>Here is a copy of the message I send Afoiani. It details the current
>state of the project.
>
>Hello...
>   I got your message about the Lyrics Server port.
>   I hadn't given the server much thought until the other day when
>I got a message from Doug Fierro. The Lyrics Server has some pretty
>severe limitations - no text search ability, the musicn't grouped
>by catagories, no way for the user to figure out what's new, a lot of
>work for the manager to add albums, and finally a lot of CPU time to
>process simple requests.
>   All of the above makes a port of the server undesirable. I've
>talked to Matson a lot. He used to run the server. We're going
>to try to do a total rewrite. With radical changes. We would like to
>write the server in two parts. First as a general database program
>followed by customizations as a Lyrics Server. Because of the e
>of the project, we're considering using C++. Probably GNU's G++.
>   Are you still interested in working on a piece of the project?
>I see it breaking into four main parts.
>   1) Design
>   2) Coding class libraries
>   3) Coding the server
>   4) Cod mail and other interfaces. We've kicked around the
>         idea of a TCP interface, maybe even an IRC interface.
>
>   We'd welcome any assistance in any of the above areas.
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>Thanks very much,
>    Niall Emmart
>
>********************************************
-- 
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                                                      Doug Fierro
 <<The only guarantee in life is that you will die>>  fierro@uts.amdahl.com
                                                      UNIX division
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

>>>>  End of included post


Note the desire to group music by categories.  I wonder if they know what a
can of worms they could open there.  For example, under which category would
they place Our KaTeness.  Maybe 'Great' would be sufficient :-).

Doug Burks                                     _O_
dbx@olympic.atmos.colostate.edu                 |<       She really is!!