Date:	  25 Nov 87

To:	  TeX implementors and distributors with unknown net addresses

From:	  Barbara Beeton

Subject:  An early-warning system for TeX system bugs, etc.


The message below has been sent out in electronic mail to everyone I know
who is actively engaged in maintaining a distinct implementation of the TeX
system or is a distributor from whom the TeX user population expects to be
able to obtain an up-to-date, reliable version of the software.  I know no
way of reaching some implementors/distributors through electronic mail,
hence this paper communication.

Also enclosed is the first "real" message sent to the electronic list.

If you feel that you should receive the kind of information that will be
distributed to this list, please let me know as soon as possible.  I would
prefer to communicate via electronic mail, but if that is impossible, I
have enlisted the TUG office manager to help with the paper distribution;
that route will not be as speedy, however.  So, if you have an electronic
address, please provide it in a form that can be reached from the Arpanet.
(I'm a real amateur when it comes to dealing with network gateways.)

		------------------------------

Date: Fri 20 Nov 87 03:51:48-EST
From: b beeton <BNB@SEED.AMS.COM>
Subject: test message

greetings.  i've taken it upon myself to try to build a distribution list
of tex implementors and others working in the tex front lines.  i include
here anyone who is in charge of maintaining a "master" version of tex or
metafont that is intended for further distribution, primary maintainers of
tex bulletin boards or information distribution centers, and the like.
for the first real message, i intend to send out the details of recent
tex bugs (version 2.7 was posted by don knuth on nov 18).  however, before
sending out a large message, i'd like to verify the address list, since i've
had quite a bit of trouble getting some addresses to work.
	please check the address to which this message was sent to you.
if you know a better, shorter, or more reliable address, please let me know
right away.  in fact, if the message reaches you, let me know that too.
(the mailer daemon will let me know soon enough which addresses are true
disasters.)  if you know anyone else who deserves to be on this list,
send me the name, address, and a reason why that person should be added.
i'm interested in keeping the list as short as possible, but i also don't
want to leave out anyone who might be spreading out-of-date implementations
about the countryside.
	i also intend to limit the content of mailings to this list to
information absolutely relevant to maintaining a tex system distribution
at a current level.  suggestions are indeed welcome.
	note that the math society has now joined the arpanet world.  if
you have trouble using the address @seed.ams.com (there are still some
bugs causing problems from some gateways and individual sites, particularly
usenet sites), reply to  beeton@score.stanford.edu  and it will be forwarded
automatically.
						-- bb
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