Talk:Computer port (software)

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[edit] Merging

I don't think merging is a good idea, a software port is a generic concept in computer science that has seen many implementations in operating systems and network protocols (for instance, the operating system on the Amiga was making intensive use of virtual ports and message passing for inter process communication), while TCP/UDP ports are very specific and notable for their mainstream use. Expanding the respective articles would be good however.

Saying that, there seems to be many short articles on wikipedia on closely related concepts in networking and inter process communication, so chances are that this article could be merged somewhere else. Equendil 23:05, 24 May 2006 (UTC)

I was thinking that TCP/UDP ports should be a specific case of software ports. (Actually, when I found the article, there was no software port article, just a TCP/UDP article, which was presented as if that were the only type of software port in existance.)

I agree that both need lots of work. If I find the time, I may even put some of that in. Putting up notices was partly a way to help remind myself that these articles existed. DStaal 13:51, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

• I think that both do need work, but a merge would loose the distinctions, so I oppose it. I added all that I knew, but I'm not an expert. 48v 07:29, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

I object also. I think these should remain as separate articles, because they cover distinct subjects. Adw2000 13:11, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Title

Would it be better to simplify the title to Software port or Port (software) instead of Computer port (software)? It seems unnecessary to specify that this is about both computer and software. —Tokek 12:43, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Software port currently redirects to Porting - will need some disambiguation work, but otherwise I agree! Jpaulm 13:55, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

I think it should absolutely left under "port", not "computer port". people who look it up - well, they don't know what it is. And in whatever context they find the word, it's called port. Not computer port. No description of IRC says "IRC servers connect by default to computer port 6667". It says "... connect through port 6667". So, the person looks up - port.

[edit] Two different headings

The merging of this article would have to be done very carefully if it is to be done correctly as the article has two different headings on the page.

I/O or machine port mechanism - port-mapped I/O relates to actual microprocessors and is a different animal to software or even internet port-mapping.

As shown above, computer port (software) or a software port is different to a TCP port and the distinction should be maintained.