REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
unmoderated group comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win64
This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) to create
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win64 as an unmoderated world-wide Usenet
newsgroup dedicated to the discussion of Microsoft Windows 64-bit
programming. This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at
this time. Procedural details appear below. All followup discussion
should be crossposted to news.groups.
Newsgroup line:
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win64 Programming for 64-bit Microsoft Windows.
CHANGES from previous RFD:
1. Typographical errors.
2. Addition of Intel Xeon (Nacona) processor.
3. Addition of on topic "any other discussions related to 64-bit windows
programming"
RATIONALE: comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win64
Microsoft Windows is the most common operating system in use on
computer desktops. For many years it has had a 32 bit API called
Win32. However, advances in processor technology mean that a new
64-bit version will soon be released. 64-bit Windows programming
is already taking place with pre-release Beta versions of the
operating system and compilers. There is a need for a Usenet group
that enables 64-bit specific programming issues to be discussed
Currently discussion happens on a variety of inappropriate groups,
such as comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32. There is also a private
(non-Usenet) Microsoft based news server which contains a group,
but which is not programming specific.
For the purposes of this RFD, Win64 is defined as the application
programming interface used by 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows.
It should be noted that traffic would be expected to be fairly
slight at first, as Win64 programming is in its infancy. However,
it is very likely that considerable porting and new programming
effort will ramp up as 64-bit Windows is released, requiring a
newsgroup quickly. There can be no doubt that Win64 programming
will be of great commercial importance very quickly.
CHARTER: comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win64
The comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win64 newsgroup is for the
discussion of the following topic areas:
- The Win64 Application Programming Interface
- Use of Win64 compatible compilers, assemblers and programming
tools
- Issues relating to programming of any 64-bit microprocessor
expected to work with 64-bit Windows, including AMD64/Opteron
and Intel Itanium/Xeon (Nacona and derivatives)
- Issues relating to 64-bit versions of any programming language
designed to work with 64-bit Windows
- Issues related to the porting of 32 bit software to the Win64
platform
- Any other discussions related to 64-bit Windows programming.
Posting of binary files is prohibited, with the exception of PGP
signatures and similar small binaries.
Infrequent posting of commercial information relating to Win64
programming tools and services is allowed. The same posting may
not be posted more often than monthly. Posting of commercial
information that is not strongly related to Win64 programming tools
or services is prohibited. In particular, advertisments for computer
hardware are not permitted.
END CHARTER.
PROCEDURE:
This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase
of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
should be raised and resolved. The discussion period will continue for
a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this
proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For
Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
warrants it. Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.
All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.
This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and "How
to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal". Please refer to these
documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
questions about the process.
This RFD may be distributed freely to other relevant newsgroups or
maillists, provided the followup line (to news.groups) is unaltered.
Note that discussion regarding this RFD should be conducted only in
news.groups.
DISTRIBUTION:
This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:
news.announce.newgroups
news.groups
comp.lang.c++
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32
Proponent: Christian McArdle <cm********@yahoo.co.uk>
