terminfo vs. termcap

[a.e.mossberg]

In <358 at tcsc3b2.UUCP>, <pag at tcsc3b2.UUCP> wrote:
>The older /etc/termcap file was used in earlier days of UNIX for the 
>definition of terminal characteristics, but has been replaced with the 
>terminfo database because the latter is quicker and more efficient to 
>process by curses(3X) than the /etc/termcap file.  The only reason that
>the /etc/termcap is still around is to retain compatibility with older
>software that still uses the /etc/termcap file for the definition of
>terminal capabilities.  Someday, AT&T will probably go through with their
>threat of removing the /etc/termcap file from future releases of UNIX V.

/etc/termcap is BSD.  AT&T came up with a compiled version which loads
somewhat faster, and uses very similar source files. Most, if not all, BSD
systems use /etc/termcap. Terminfo is used by Sys V and derivatives (A/IX,
A/UX, etc).


aem
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