🚀 go-pugleaf

One of the things that I like about UNIX that isn't on the Mac is the
ability to use pipes.  Does anyone know if Apple has any plans to
create a graphical pipe system for the Mac?  I envision something
along the following lines:

	1)  It works from within the finder.
	2)  A window pops up and you are able to construct, by
	    clicking and dragging icons, a graphical representation
	    of a pipe.  If anyone remembers the graphical, iconic,
	    programming language used in ChipWits, this is the sort
	    of thing I have in mind.
	3)  Each icon would accept at least one input (maybe more) and
	    would have at least one output.
	4)  There is no reason that the files being passed through the
	    pipe have to be restricted to text files.  Other standard
	    mac files might be used, such as PICT.  A file might read 
	    in a text file and output a PICT.
	5)  Double clicking on an icon would bring up a dialog box
	    that would serve the same function as setting flags.
	6)  Standard applications could be extended to work in "pipe
	    mode" so they don't have to start up their full-blown
	    interactive versions.  Of course, it doesn't make sense for
	    all applications to have a pipe mode.  But certain ones, 
	    like image processing might benefit.
	7)  There might also be certain applications that run, gasp,
	    only in pipe mode.
	8)  Apple would have to approve the idea and define the way
	    that files in the pipe would be passed from application to
	    application.
	9)  This idea does not require multiprocessing in the UNIX
	    sense, but probably would require multifinder.  But, memory
	    could be conserved in two ways.  Presumably the "pipe mode"
	    version of the program would be smaller and the applications
	    could be run sequentially, rather than concurrently.

Well, what do you think?  This is just pure wishful thinking on my
part.  Does it go against the grain of the Macintosh Philosophy?  Does
it really rub people the wrong way (like scratchin a chalkboard)?

Any discussion will certainly be of interest. :-)
-=-
 Marc Sarrel          sarrel@cis.ohio-state.edu | "Language is a virus from
 Department of Computer and Information Science |  outer space. And, it's
 The Ohio State University                      |  better to hear your name
 2036 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH USA 43210-1277    |  than see your face."