Subj : showold.py
To   : Nil Alexandrov
From : Stephen Walsh
Date : Sun Nov 02 2025 15:22:30


Hello Nil!

02 Nov 25 06:13, you wrote to me:

 SW>> Can you post the relevant parts of your config file(s)?

 NA> -=config=-
 NA> Address 2:5015/46@fidonet
 NA> set FidoBaseDir=/home/fido
 NA> Include [FidoHPTDir]/path

 NA> -=path=-
 NA> set FidoSysDir=[FidoBaseDir]
 NA> Outbound [FidoSysDir]/outbound
 NA> PassFileAreaDir [FidoSysDir]/fileecho.passthrough

Pointing variables at other variables is generally asking for trouble. Even I know that and I'm not a experienced programmer with
years under my belt.


  Problems with variable chaining:

  1. Circular references: What if someone does:
  set VarA=[VarB]
  set VarB=[VarA]

  2. Debugging nightmare: When something breaks, you have to trace through multiple levels to find the actual value.
  3. Hidden dependencies: Changing FidoBaseDir silently affects everything that references it.
  4. Harder to validate: Can't easily check if paths are valid until all variables are expanded.


I'll post a update in a day or two. Will need to test with set statements.






Stephen


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