Subject: Re: [PATCH] CTRL-T status line patch for 0.99.pl11 From: bellamy@commerce.uq.edu.au (David Bellamy) Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1993 15:53:44 +1000
In article <1993Aug3.052229.25140@excaliber.uucp>, joel@rac2.wam.umd.edu
(Joel M. Hoffman) wrote:
> In article <CB3w1v.A3o@boulder.parcplace.com> imp@boulder.parcplace.com (Warner Losh) writes:
> >In article <1993Aug1.231753.11812@mel.dit.csiro.au>
> >smart@koel.mel.dit.CSIRO.AU (Robert Smart) writes:
> >>This is handled by job control in unix:
> >>you can CTRL-Z and bg the job and then watch it. CTRL-T would be easier
> >>though.
> >
>
> Also, I think a nice feature of the kernel might be to flash the
> scroll lock light (which, as nearly as I can figure out, doesn't mean
> anything in Linux) once every second. If the light stops flashing,
> the system is dead. Otherwise, it's still working. Of course, the
> keyboard can become disconnected, but if that happens, no matter what
> you press you'll think the system is dead.
>
Sort of heart beat!
Maybe even the idle process (is there such a thing) could turn the scroll
lock light on, and off when work is being done - the opposite to a disk
activity light. That would give instant feedback on how hard the beast is
working. I'd imagine that there are enough periodic tasks to give an
occasional blink even when no user activity is going on. Paging and I/O
would allow a flash even when near fully loaded (unless in CPU loop). Of
course, make it configurable for those who don't want to spend the extra
few instructions.
-- David Bellamy. Deparment of Commerce. The University of Queensland. Australia. Internet: bellamy@commerce.uq.edu.au