[Asterisk-Dev] Dialplan syntax changes.. Option: work on a radically different design..

[Dave Weis]

On Wed, 18 May 2005, Tilghman Lesher wrote:
> On Wednesday 18 May 2005 11:15, Dave Weis wrote:
>> On Wed, 18 May 2005 alex at pilosoft.com wrote:
>>> On Wed, 18 May 2005, Brian West wrote:
>>>>> What is the dialplan?  It's really a procedural language, it
>>>>> seems. Do we already have well defined syntax(es) that would fit?
>>>>> Sure we do -- and most of them stem from the syntax of C in one
>>>>> way or another.
>>>>> So, can it make sense to make the Dialplan look more like C?
>>>
>>> Finally someone who has enough sanity to recognize that line-based
>>> programming languages died away with ol' GWBASIC and FORTRAN-1945
>>>
>>> I'm for it with both hands.
>>> Now, let's discuss the BNF of the new language. Also, discuss
>>> whether we need gotos, etc, etc - and whether possibly adoption of
>>> another existing "domain specific language" would be preferable to
>>> rolling our own, writing parsers and syntax/semantic analyzer,
>>> variable/array/etc support code - which needs to be debugged etc.
>>> Very boring stuff.
>>
>> I think we should go for a slightly higher layer of functionality
>> when in the distributed tarball. It's silly that people are still
>> rewriting call forward and extension macros. I would like to have one
>> or two "personalities" shipped with * based on the dial plan syntax,
>> whatever it ends up being.
>>
>> With this users will get something closer to a predefined kit of
>> parts when they want to build something instead of an entire hardware
>> store.
>
> I think most of us want to continue to have the equivalent of the entire
> hardware store, not "You have black boxes A-E, and if you can't do what
> you want to do with one of those black boxes, well, then, you shouldn't
> be doing that anyway."

What I'm saying is make what ships with * in the current extensions.conf 
more like a phone system/pbx and less like a 2500 phone hooked to an 
analog line. There shouldn't be people trying to figure out basic features 
like *69, voice mail on busy, and call forward every day. Ship a more 
functional extensions.conf.

All of the black boxes are there and build on the functionality. I don't 
want to remove anything at all. Think of it more like the express lane in 
the hardware store, you want to build a standard swing set, you grab the 
box of swing set parts. You want a custom swing set, there are piles of 
lumber and fasteners in back. Go crazy with it.

-- 
Dave Weis             "I believe there are more instances of the abridgment
djweis at sjdjweis.com   of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent
                       encroachments of those in power than by violent
                       and sudden usurpations."- James Madison