[OS X TeX] altpdflatex - back compatibility please

[Joachim Kock]

I'm surprised if the altpdftex script has actually been removed, because
one important virtue of tex is back compatibility.

Whatever the reasons for renaming altpdftex to simpdftex --- the only
reason I can imagine is some juridic tradename issue!?!  --- it seems so
obvious that there should just be a back compatibility wrapper script that
does what the current error message says, namely redirect to simpdftex
--maxpfb or whatever the recommended.

Removing the script puts many developers, including Dick Koch, in an
awkward position: they would no longer be able to rely on the presence of
altpdftex, and of course they can not just assume that simpdftex is
present, since it is very likely that the user still has a pre 2004 tex
installation.  One year of transition is nothing --- tex was mature 15 or
25 years ago.

I think the removal of altpdftex should be reconsidered.

Cheers,
Joachim.


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