ref: f14db990f495096c3095a493c54b0750bb1382b4
parent: 9a1b623e8e130ea5be97e1f8fadac1a7a1fa544a
author: kvik <kvik@a-b.xyz>
date: Sat Aug 14 12:21:43 EDT 2021
fqq: add frequently questions questions page
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fqq.md
@@ -1,0 +1,24 @@
+# Frequently Questioned Questions
+
+## APE — The ANSI/POSIX Environment
+
+What is the future of APE? Are we interested in accepting major
+improvements to it or is it something that we should strive to eliminate
+from base system in the future?
+
+As of now 9front has some major dependencies on APE-based software,
+namely: `gs(1)`, `ape/patch(1)`, various `troff(1)` related utilities,
+audio codecs, and a whole bucket of external software.
+
+Most of these appear to be on a path to be replaced by native
+alternatives: Sigrid's `pdffs(1)`, Ori's `patch(1)`, and so on.
+
+Sigrid's [Native Porting Environment](https://git.sr.ht/~ft/npe)
+seems like a good alternative.
+
+After APE dependencies in the base system are minimized or eliminated
+entirely it seems to follow that APE shall be removed.
+
+I (kvik) am in favor of this option. APE living its own life
+seems preferable from letting it rot behind bars maintained by
+philosophic objections of some contributors.