Andrew's Unfinished Projects

News v1.0d1 - download it from here!

Here's the first *development* release of a TCP/IP based newsreader for the Apple IIgs that I've been working on.

I was unable to continue working on this project at one point and it hasn't moved much since then. Hence, I have made the source code available so that others can continue with it or use it as an example of working with Marinetti.

If someone would like to work with me on this project on a GUI level they would be very welcome. I have lots of ideas about how to develop the backend data structures for threading, read/unread messages etc, but my knowledge of the GUI programming is holding me back. If you'd like to help me, then please email me!

If someone wants to do their own newsreader and thinks that what I have done so far is not worth keeping, then please let me know. I'll go work on something else.

Requirements:

System 6.0.1 and Marinetti must be installed.
SLIP connection with ISP
IP number of an NNTP server accessible from your ISP which does not require authentication
Resource editor to change IP number

Known Problems:

- user interface is a disgrace. sorry, so far this hasnt been a priority
- the window content draw routine is not working properly. dont know why
- all keyboard entry is ignored. dont know why
- If a message is received with more than 1024 characters in a line it will cause synchronisation problems with the host. there has to be a limit
- selecting a group with a large number of articles (>10 or so) will cause the text length of the Host Response window to exceed its 32k limit. there has to be a limit and the Host Response is only for debugging anyway
- it is SLOW - to build article title lists the lines are received a character at a time. this will hopefully be addressed by a future version of Marinetti.
- there is some unreleased data hanging around which can cause News to crash while exiting. I havent found it yet.

Changing the IP number:

Because keyboard entry is being ignored, you are not able to enter in the IP number of your own news server. You'll need to use a resource editor to change it. rPString 65002.

To use News:

- Change the IP number resource
- Edit the newsrc file to include any newsgroup you wish to read (article ranges are ignored)
- Start News
- Click Ok to start connection process
- Click Ok to accept IP number (connection should then be established with server)
- click on Groups from the Windows menu (group list should be displayed in a list box after discussion with host)
- click on a group (titles list for the group should be displayed in a list box after discussion with host) WARNING! this is a slow step and should not be performed on newsgroups with lots of articles. Try comp.sys.apple2.gno
- click on a title (full message should be displayed in a new window)
- the quit menu item will attempt to disconnect you
If the Marinetti CDEV was used to connect to the ISP, then News will not perform a disconnection when you quit.

Source Code Notes:

This source code is taken from a work in progress. User beware.

The included source code may be used in your own projects while:
- your own project will not be sold (commercial, or shareware)
- a credit for the use of this code is given to the author in the about dialog of your project